By Belarmino Dabalos Saguing
Rome, Italy 15/11/2013
Relief teams from Germany have expressed their displeasure
for the slow phase of the Philippine governments reactoipons to emergency.
Having waited for more than 7 hours at the Manila Airport to enter the
Philippines and be transported to the disaster areas, they have been delayed
due to bureaucratic policies. *
Along with the Israeli, the Germans have brought with them
emergency hospitals that could have tereated hundreds of victims in a day. Both
teams were informed that the Philippine Authorities are just following the
government procedures for foreign emergency teams.
The U.S. Marines were
reportedly instructed not to let Philippine government officials and
politicians touch the relief goods that will arrive in Samar. Five C130
panes are scheduled to arrive, carrying relief goods from the United
Nations, while Some donors have reportedly began handing out relief goods
to affected communities, while Some
donors have reportedly began handing out relief goods to affected communities
Meanwhile, President Benigno Aquino said in a press briefing that local
officials had overstated the number of deaths. The embattled president said the
official tally was closer to 2,500 rather than the 10,000 intially reported.
Aid workers in the devastated areas became skeptical of Mr Aquino's comments.
There have been reports and footage of near anarchy as some people
resorted to looting warehouses and shops to find food, water and supplies.
Eight people were crushed to death when alleged looters decided to raid a
government stockpile of rice in the town of Alangalang.
Tacloban City Administrator Tecson John Lim said 90 per cent of
the city had been destroyed and only 20 per cent of survivors have received
relief goods. Mr Lim said the "looters" should not be treated as
criminals since the people are growing desperate for food and water. He said
the people had to do something for survival and self-preservation.
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