UN: Typhoon victims still need help

(Vatican Radio) The Philippines continues to recover after the devastation of Typhoon Haiyan, which claimed more than 6,000 lives and left millions displaced in early November. While media attention has looked elsewhere, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon says the situation is still urgent. He has appealed for increased international aid to assist reconstruction in the Philippines.

“They need this support immediately, because there is still a shortage of food, water, sanitation and they need shelter. My impression, having visited Tacloban yesterday, it was a very dire situation and still very dire,“ he said.

Ban spent three days visiting the Philippines to show solidarity with the nation as well as to meet with key ambassadors in Manila. He recounts the signs of hope and recovery:

“I was very impressed by such a strong resilience of the people. Businesses were coming slowly to normalcy and people were motivated,” he said.

The UN has begun a year-long campaign to raise about $800 million. Thirty per cent has been raised to date. The Philippine government has launched a four-year $8 billion construction drive.

Listen to the report by Andrew Summerson: