GENEVA
One month after Typhoon Haiyan hit the Philippines, the World Health Organization warned that rebuilding the country's shattered health system was an urgent priority in the next phase of disaster response while the World Food Programme has called for a total of $103 million for 2.5 million people for the next six months.
"Our immediate goal was to help plug critical gaps in medical services and to get the right experts and supplies into the right places swiftly and efficiently," said Dr Julie Hall, the WHO representative in the Philippines.
One month into the crisis, 181 medical teams (65 foreign, 116 local) are delivering critical care in affected areas.
WHO has coordinated the distribution of more than 72 tonnes of medicines and supplies to support the relief effort.
The global organization warned that the risk of infectious diseases remained high, particularly in the crowded and unsanitary environments where hundreds of thousands of homeless people are now sheltering.
"The typhoon, one of the strongest ever recorded, tore through the central Philippines on 8 November, sweeping away villages, killing over 5,700 people, wreaking havoc on the lives of more than 11 million others and damaging the majority of medical facilities," WHO noted.
- 'Emergency food assistance remains a top priority'
WFP said emergency food assistance remained a top priority for affected communities, adding that despite distributions were increasing in the islands and other areas, "the needs are great."
WFP has received less than half of the $103 million required for food and logistics.
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