Via The Guardian: Aid efforts begin after typhoon Haiyan kills 10,000 in Philippines: live updates. Excerpt from the most recent posts:
3:27 pm GMT I've been talking to aid agencies about the vast relief effort only just underway, and they stress two things. Firstly, they note that logistics – the sheer task of getting people and aid out to the affected areas – will be extremely difficult given blocked roads and the extreme disruption to ports and airports.
They also say that apart from emergency assistance such as shelter and clean water, people will need much longer-term help, as crops, fishing fleets and other infrastructure has been destroyed.
Then there's the sheer number of people affected. Pete Garratt, disasters emergency manager for British Red Cross said it was likely to prove the biggest relief effort since the huge Pakistan floods of 2010, which killed around 2,000 people and affected about 20m.
3.09pm GMT More on the British aid from a spokesman for Cameron, whose quotes come via the Press Association:
The prime minister [told Aquino] that our thoughts are with all those affected, especially those who have lost loved ones. This weekend we announced a package of £6m emergency humanitarian support to help more than 500,000 people affected by the storm.We have also sent four humanitarian experts to the Philippines to assist three advisers already in the country helping to coordinate the international response.
