An enormous need for assistance remains unmet 100 days since one of the most powerful typhoons on record devastated the eastern Philippines, a United Nations official said on Saturday.
Progress has been made in providing relief to survivors, but the UN noted that millions still require urgent assistance for housing and livelihoods destroyed by Typhoon Haiyan.
“We cannot afford to be complacent,” said Luiza Carvalho, UN resident and humanitarian coordinator for the Philippines. “The need for durable shelter for millions of people whose homes were damaged or destroyed is critical.” “Millions of livelihoods were similarly destroyed or impaired when the typhoon tore down or damaged 33 million coconut trees, flooded fields with saltwater and took away or wrecked 30,000 fishing vessels,” she added.
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Ms. Carvalho called for more donations to help the survivors, noting that only 45 per cent of the UN’s aid appeal for 788 million dollars has been received.
“The Filipino people in the affected areas deserve our continued support as they remain determined to recover in the face of immense obstacles and personal tragedy,” she said.
In Manila, about 200,000 members of a religious sect joined a charity walk on Saturday to raise funds for victims of Haiyan, which struck on November 8, flattening homes and destroying vital infrastructure.
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More than 6,200 people were killed and nearly 1,800 still missing after the storm triggered tidal surges up to 5 metres high. More than 4 million people were displaced and more than 1 million homes damaged or destroyed, the government said.
The government estimated reconstruction of the devastated communities would cost 361 billion pesos (8 billion dollars).