Residents of the Philippines’ city of Tacloban have been enduring a daily struggle for survival since Typhoon Haiyan devastated the city a week ago.
Long-awaited aid has started to arrive, but crowds of residents were still queuing at Tacloban airport, desperate to leave.
United Nations aid worker Mark McCarthy said: “The scope and scale of this is so large, even with endless pockets, nobody could have delivered aid on day one. So now, the point is that the machine is running. The humanitarian community is mobilising and is mobilised already.”
Tacloban’s municipal authorities have started working to clear the debris from the streets. Some residents fear more bodies will be found, as rescue workers have still not been able to reach all parts of the city.
In a local hospital, still without power, minor procedures have been carried out by torch light. Trauma specialists have started helping survivors come to terms with the loss of loved ones and life after the storm.
