Typhoon Haiyan

Typhoon Haiyan near Palau on November 6

Upon JTWC's declaration of Tropical Depression 31W on November 3, a tropical storm warning was issued for Chuuk Lagoon, Losap, and Poluwat in the Federated States of Micronesia. Further west, Faraulep, Satawal, and Woleai, were placed under a typhoon watch while Fananu and Ulul were placed under a tropical storm watch.[27] The following day, the tropical storm warning expanded to include Satawal while a typhoon warning was issued for Woleai.[28] Much of Yap State and the islands of Koror and Kayangel in Palau were placed under a typhoon watch.[29] The government issued a mandatory evacuation for Kayangel, and although most residents ignored the warning, they all survived the storm.[16] As Haiyan progressed westward, the easternmost advisories were gradually discontinued.[29] As Haiyan intensified into a typhoon on November 5, warnings were raised across Palau and Yap State.[30][31] Government offices in Melekeok were used as an evacuation building for Palau.[32] Despite mandatory evacuation orders, most residents on Kayangel remained on the island and rode out the typhoon.[33]

PAGASA raised rainfall warning advisory in the Central and Eastern Visayas during the passage of Haiyan (Yolanda).

Shortly before Haiyan entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility on November 6, PAGASA raised Public Storm Warning Signal (PSWS) No.1, the lowest of four levels, for much of the Visayas and Mindanao.[34] As the storm continued to approach the country, warnings expanded into Luzon and increased in severity for eastern areas.[35] By the evening of November 7, PSWS No. 4, the highest level of warning which indicates winds in excess of 185 km/h (115 mph) are expected, was raised for Biliran Island, Eastern Samar, Leyte, Northern Cebu, Metro Cebu, Samar, and Southern Leyte.[36][37] Through November 8, the coverage of PSWS No. 4 continued to expand, with areas in southern Luzon being included.[38]

PSWS Map in the Philippines during the passage of Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda)

Officials placed police officers in the Bicol Region ahead of the storm.[39] In the provinces of Samar and Leyte, classes were canceled, and residents in flood- and landslide-prone areas were required to evacuate.[40] Some of the storm-threatened areas were affected by an earlier earthquake in Bohol.[41] Then-Philippine President Noynoy Aquino requested the military to deploy planes and helicopters to the region expected to be affected.[42] As Haiyan was moving very fast, PAGASA issued warnings at different levels to about 60 of the 80 provinces, including the capital Metro Manila.[43] On November 8, the International Charter on Space and Major Disasters was activated, providing widespread charitable satellite coverage to relief organizations.[44]

The State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters hoisted a level three emergency response in the provinces of Hainan, Guangdong and Guangxi. All fishing vessels were urged to return to ports by noon on November 9.[45] The Hong Kong Observatory issued the Strong Monsoon Signal at 19:10 HKT on November 9,[46] and it was still in place on November 13.[47]

On November 8, Prime Minister Nguyễn Tấn Dũng activated the highest state of preparedness in the country.[48] Approximately 600,000 people across southern and central provinces were evacuated while a further 200,000 were evacuated in northern provinces. Alerts were sent to 85,328 seagoing vessels, with a collective crew of 385,372 people, to sail to safer waters away from the storm. Requests were sent to China, Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines to aid any fishermen who needed immediate shelter from the typhoon.[49] Threatening Vietnam after two other typhoons, Wutip and Nari, there were concerns that the storm would cause significant damage to homes with makeshift repairs.[50] Roughly 460,000 military personnel and other authorities were mobilized to assist in evacuation efforts.[49] Hundreds of flights were canceled across the country while schools were closed on November 11. On the small island of Cồn Cỏ, all residents were moved to underground shelters with enough supplies for several days.[51] The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) branches in Vietnam prepared relief stockpiles, consisting of food, water, housing material, and ₫6.6 billion (US$310,000) in funds.[49] The local United Nations Resident Coordinator, Pratibha Mehta, praised the government's actions and credited them with saving numerous lives.[48] However, there were complaints from many residents that the warnings came too late.[51]

As the storm brushed Eauripik, strong winds and heavy rain battered much of Micronesia. In Eauripik, one canoe house and three residential properties were damaged and banana and breadfruit trees were damaged. In Woleai, banana and breadfruit trees were damaged. In Ifalik, minor inundation at coastal areas and banana and breadfruit trees were damaged.[53]

On Kayangel in Palau, a high storm surge damaged several houses,[32] while strong winds downed trees.[16] Despite residents' refusal to evacuate, no fatalities or major injuries took place on the island. Helicopters were flown to the island to survey the damage and provide relief supplies. The government planned to evacuate those who were left homeless from the island.[33] Koror, Babeldaob and Kayangel each lost access to water and power.[16] In Koror, winds reaching as high as 120 km/h (75 mph) blew out rooftops and downed trees and power lines. A causeway linking an offshore hospital to the main island was temporarily shut down after being inundated by water.[54] On the northern end of Babeldaob, Haiyan damaged schools and buildings.[32] Lying closest to Haiyan at the time of the typhoon's passage, Kayangel was flooded in its entirety, and all homes were destroyed. Though no people were killed there, 69 others were displaced by the storm.[54]

Weather radar reflectivity loop of Haiyan's landfall on Leyte Island. Tacloban City was struck by the northern eyewall, the most powerful part of the storm, which obliterated much of the city.[63]

Typhoon Haiyan, called Yolanda in the Philippines, caused catastrophic damage throughout much of the islands of Leyte, where cities and towns were largely destroyed.[64] By April 17, 2016, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) confirmed 6,300 fatalities across the country, 5,902 of those taking place in the Eastern Visayas.[3] However, the true death toll remains unclear.

In Surigao City, 281.9 mm (11.10 in) of rainfall was recorded, much of which fell in under 12 hours.[65] Storm surges were also recorded in many places. In the island of Leyte and Samar, PAGASA measured 5–6 m (15–19 ft) waves.[66] In Tacloban, Leyte, the terminal building of Tacloban Airport was destroyed by a 5.2 m (17 ft) storm surge up to the height of the second story.[67] Along the airport, a storm surge of 4 m (13 ft) was estimated.[68] Waves of 4.6 m (15 ft) were also estimated.[69] On the western coast of Samar, the storm surge was not as significant.[70]

Haiyan's first landfall was at Guiuan in Eastern Samar, where the typhoon touched down at 4:40 am.[71][72] Nearly all structures in the township suffered at least partial damage, many of which were completely flattened.[73] For several days following Haiyan's first landfall, the damage situation in the fishing town remained unclear due to lack of communication in and out of the area.[74] The damage could finally be assessed after Philippine Air Force staff arrived in Guiuan on November 10.[75] Prior to this, a local priest was able to take his motorbike from Guiuan to the cities of Catbalogan and Calbayog (also in Samar) armed with photos of the devastation, shot on his mobile phone.[76]

There was widespread devastation from the storm surge in Tacloban City especially in San Jose, with many buildings being destroyed, trees knocked over or broken, and cars piled up.[69] The low-lying areas on the eastern side of Tacloban city were hardest hit, with some areas completely washed away. Flooding also extended for 1 km (0.62 mi) inland on the east coast of the province.[69] City administrator Tecson John Lim stated that roughly 90 percent of the city had been destroyed.[64] Journalists on the ground have described the devastation as, "off the scale, and apocalyptic".[77] Most families in Samar and Leyte lost some family members or relatives; families came in from outlying provinces looking for relatives, especially children, who may have been washed away.[78] The entire first floor of the Tacloban City Convention Center, which was serving as an evacuation shelter, was submerged by storm surge. Many residents in the building were caught off-guard by the fast-rising waters and subsequently drowned or were injured in the building.[79]

Although wind speeds were extreme, the major cause of damage and loss of life appears to have been from the storm surge. The major focus of devastation appears to have been on the east coast of Samar and Leyte, with a particular focus on Tacloban, because of its location between Samar and Leyte, and the large population in low-lying areas.[70] Philippine Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Mar Roxas said the scale of the relief operation that was now required was overwhelming, with some places described as a wasteland of mud and debris.[80]

Sebastian Rhodes Stampa, head of a UN disaster assessment coordination team, said there was "destruction on a massive scale" in Tacloban. "There are cars thrown like tumbleweeds and the streets are strewn with debris. The last time I saw something of this scale was in the aftermath of the [2004] Indian Ocean tsunami."[69] There was little communication in the city and no mobile phone coverage. Up the east coast of Leyte, there were numerous towns and villages that were completely cut off without any assistance. Large parts of Leyte and Samar were without power for weeks.[77]

The storm crossed the Visayas region for almost a day, causing widespread flooding. In Cebu and Bohol, struck by a magnitude 7.2 earthquake two weeks before, cities were also severely devastated.[90] During the morning of November 8, media stations across the country were able to broadcast live the destruction of Haiyan. However, before the afternoon, all communications on the Visayas region failed. The Presidential Communications Department of President Benigno Aquino III had difficulty contacting DILG Secretary Mar Roxas and Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin in Tacloban City to plan relief.[91] Widespread power interruptions, landslides, and flash floods were also reported. Major roads were blocked by trees, and impassable. 453 domestic and international airline flights were canceled. Some airports were also closed on November 8 and 9. Ferries were affected. Relief and rescue efforts were underway by November 9, but some places remained isolated and out of communication due to severe damage.[92]

Haiyan tossed up large car-sized boulders, the heaviest of them weighing 180 tons, onto Calicoan Island in Eastern Samar, of which a few were carried uphill 10 m (33 ft). This is considered the biggest weight ever moved during a tropical cyclone since record-keeping began.[93] NDRRMC finally confirmed a total of 6,300 deaths in the Philippines, and total damages were estimated at PH₱95.48 billion (US$2.2 billion).[3]

Along the coast of Gongliao District, New Taipei, 16 people were swept out to sea by three 8 m (26 ft) waves. After several hours of search and rescue, eight were hospitalized while the other eight drowned. This was considered the largest loss of life from waves in Taiwan in several years.[94] In May 2014, the Taiwan Keelung District Prosecutors Office confirmed that Typhoon Haiyan is responsible for the 8 deaths.[95] Agricultural damage in Tainan were amounted to NT$400–500 million (US$13.5–16.9 million).[96]

One person also went missing off the coast of Lantau Island, Hong Kong.[97]

Typhoon Haiyan reached Hainan Province, where severe damage took place and six people were killed in various incidents.[98] The hardest hit area was Qionghai, where roughly 3,500 people across 20 villages were isolated due to extensive flooding.[99]

30 people were killed, while direct economic losses in China amounted to ¥4.58 billion (US$752 million).[52] An estimated 1.21 million people were affected, of whom 26,300 were evacuated. Two people died while four others went missing after a car fell off a flooded road into a river near Beihai, Guangxi.[100] Losses throughout Guangxi amounted to ¥275 million (US$45.2 million).[98][101] Approximately 900 homes and 25,500 hectares of crops were destroyed, while 8,500 homes were damaged. Additionally, an estimated 3 million people were affected by the storm throughout Southern China.[102] A cargo ship broke moorings at Sanya, Hainan on November 8;[103] three members of the crew drowned while four others went missing.[101]

Haiyan produced high winds and widespread heavy rainfall which affected northern Vietnam.[104] Rainfall totals of up to 461 mm (18.1 in) and wind gusts of up to 147 km/h (91 mph) were recorded.[104] Ten people were killed while they were preparing for Haiyan's landfall, while no one was killed after the system made landfall; however, 4 people are missing in Quảng Ninh Province.[104] In all, Haiyan killed 18 people, and left two missing with 93 others being injured.[105] Economic losses in Vietnam were amounted to ₫669 billion (US$31.67 million).[106]

Animated satellite comparison of power outages across the Visayas following Typhoon Haiyan

Map of damaged houses by municipality showing track of storm, from the United Nations, as of November 18, 2013

An aerial view of Guiuan, the town where the typhoon made its first landfall

Destruction in Basey, Samar after the typhoon passed over the town

By November 11, the provinces of Aklan, Capiz, Cebu, Iloilo, Leyte, Palawan, and Samar were placed under a state of national calamity, allowing the government to use state funds for relief and rehabilitation and to control prices of basic goods.[118] Additionally, approximately ₱30.6 million (US$700,000) had been allocated in relief assistance by the NDRRMC. Local and national agencies deployed a collective 18,177 personnel, 844 vehicles, 44 seagoing vessels, and 31 aircraft for various operations.[3] CBCP also declared 8 days of mourning for victims of the typhoon on the same date.[119][120]

World Health Organization Representative in the Philippines Dr. Julie Hall noted that while many survivors requiring medical attention in the first week suffer from trauma and fractures, the concern shifts toward chronic conditions as the weeks pass. The WHO coordinated the massive international response to help the Philippine government meet the acute need for healthcare services in the affected areas.[121]

Extreme damage to infrastructure throughout the region posed logistical problems that greatly slowed relief efforts. Though aid was flown into local airports, most of it remained there as roads remained closed.[122] According to estimates on November 13, only 20 percent of the affected population in Tacloban City was receiving aid. With a lack of access to clean water, some residents dug up water pipes and boiled water from there in order to survive. Thousands of people sought to evacuate the city via C-130 cargo planes, however, the slow process fueled further aggravation. Reports of escaped prisoners raping women in the city prompted a further urgency to evacuate. One resident was quoted as saying "Tacloban is a dead city."[64] Due to the lack of electricity, planes could only operate during the daylight, further slowing the evacuations. At dawn on November 12, thousands of people broke through fences and rushed towards planes only to be forced back by police and military personnel. A similar incident occurred later that day as a U.S. cargo plane was landing.[123]

On November 14, a correspondent from the BBC reported Tacloban to be a "war zone", although the situation soon stabilized when the presence of government law enforcement was increased. Safety concerns prompted several relief agencies to back out of the operation, and some United Nations staff were pulled out for safety reasons. A message circulating among the agencies urged them to not go into Tacloban for this reason.[124] On the west coast of Leyte Island, residents in Ormoc were fearing that the focus on Tacloban City would leave them without aid. Though not as hard hit, roughly 90 percent of the city was damaged or destroyed and supplies were running low. Hospitals in the city were either shut down or working at partial capacity, leaving many of the nearly 2,000 injured in the city without medical assistance. In nearby Baybay, lack of assistance fueled anger and incited looting for survival.[125]

In the coastal community Guiuan, which took the full brunt of the typhoon, Mayor Christopher Gonzalez is credited with saving countless lives after he incessantly urged residents to evacuate. He referred to the storm as "delubyo (deluge)", which roughly translates to Armageddon. Of the town's 45,000 residents, 87 died, 931 were injured, and 23 others were listed as missing. U.S. Navy Capt. Russell Hays, a medical officer, estimated that a storm of Haiyan's caliber could have killed as many as 4,500 in Guiuan alone had it not been for the mayor's efforts.[126]

On November 18, the government of the Philippines launched an online portal, called the Foreign Aid Transparency Hub (FaiTH), that provides the public a transparency view of the funds and other aids received by the government from the international community.[127][128]

To lead the management and rehabilitation efforts of the central provinces in the Philippines affected by Typhoon Haiyan, Philippines President Benigno Aquino III appointed Panfilo Lacson as Typhoon Haiyan Rehabilitation Czar.[129]

Devastated coconut trees in Guiuan

Typhoon Haiyan knocked over Power Barge 103 of NAPOCOR in Estancia, Iloilo causing an oil spill.[130][131][132][133] As a result of the typhoon, the government is planning to replant mangroves in coastal areas while preserving the remaining ones.[134] Affected residents were allowed to return to their homes by the Department of Health on December 7, 2013, after an air quality test found out that benzene levels in affected areas reached near-zero parts per million. Earlier, residents were asked to evacuate affected areas as the benzene levels had reached unhealthy amounts.[135]

The remains of a home destroyed by the storm in Tacloban City

Throughout Tacloban City, widespread looting took place in the days following Haiyan's passage. In some instances, relief trucks were attacked and had food stolen in the city. Two of the city's malls and numerous grocery stores were subjected to looting. A fuel depot in the city was guarded by armed police while 200 additional officers were dispatched to assist.[136] Security checkpoints had since been set up all over Tacloban and a curfew was imposed on residents to prevent more attacks.[137] Philippine military forces also prevented members of the New People's Army from ambushing a relief convoy bound for Samar in Matnog, Sorsogon, killing two.[138] President Benigno Aquino III considered declaring martial law in hopes of restoring order in affected areas.[139][140]

Looting intensified as slow recovery efforts forced residents to seek any means necessary to survive. Tacloban city administrator Tecson John Lim stated, "The looting is not criminality. It is self-preservation." The Chicago Tribune reported that some areas were on the brink of anarchy, though Interior Secretary Mar Roxas denied such claims.[64] Further complicating efforts to retain order was the lack of officers reporting for work. In Tacloban, only 100 of the city's 1,300 police personnel reported for duty.[123] In Alangalang, just west of Tacloban, eight people were crushed to death after the walls of a warehouse collapsed during a raid on a government rice stockpile. Approximately 33,000 bags of rice, each weighing 50 kg (110 lb), were stolen. Warehouses were also raided in Jaro and Palo. Throughout the city of Tacloban itself, people began looting from homes as stores had been completely emptied.[64]

Color coded map of Eastern Visayas showing the number of deaths caused by Typhoon Haiyan.
  More than 1,000
  500-999
  100-499
  50-99
  25-49
  1-24
  0

Condemnations of slow government action in the relief effort in response to the typhoon mounted days after the storm had passed. Media reports criticized the Aquino administration for apparent lack of preparation and coordination among government agencies in the aid operation.[141][142] Up until November 12, five days after the typhoon struck, survivors continued to struggle with basic necessities such as food, water, and shelter while remote towns in Leyte and Samar were yet to be reached by aid.[143] The Philippine government responded by saying that they have dealt with the tragedy "quite well" but the response had been slow due to the breakdown of the local governance in affected areas where officials and employees, who were usually the first to respond in these events, were victims of the typhoon themselves.[144] Cabinet Secretary Jose Rene Almendras said that the national government had to take over despite logistical challenges and assured it is working toward providing aid the quickest way possible to the survivors.[145] The national Government was also criticized for putting the responsibility of handling the dead to the Bureau of Fire instead to the Department of Health. Dr. Racquel Fortun, one of the forensic experts to go to the area three days after the typhoon insisted that handling of the bodies is a health matter and therefore a responsibility of DOH.[146]

One of the biggest controversies of Typhoon Haiyan is probably the number of victims or the body count. According to the Philippine government sources, the number of those killed during the typhoon ranges from 4,000 to 6,000 individuals while some sources claim that the body count reaches up to 15,000.[147][148][149]

In 2018, coinciding the fifth year mark of the disaster, the survivors again protested against the government's slow response on rehabilitation efforts, displaying the caricature of President Rodrigo Duterte, who was the Mayor of Davao City at the time of the disaster.[150] However, in November 2018, the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) confirmed that the budget is under the 2016 "Yolanda" Recovery & Reconstruction Program that "remained untapped & were not released" until the expiration of the validity of the funds last December 31, 2017, during President Duterte's second year in office.[151]

The Philippines faced a humanitarian crisis days after the typhoon hit much of the Visayas with 1.8 million homeless and more than 6,000,000 displaced.[152] In Tacloban alone, ninety percent of the structures are either destroyed or damaged while other cities, such as Ormoc, are reporting similar damage.[153] The United Nations fear that the possibility of the spread of disease is high due to the lack of food, water, shelter, and medication. Casualties have been reported as a result of the lack of aid in affected areas and the number of dead is likely to rise.[154]

As a result of the damage in Tacloban and much of Leyte, thousands of people who once lived in the area left and made their way into less affected areas such as Cebu and Manila.[155] Catbalogan reported that their population more than doubled after the typhoon with the influx of refugees into the city.[156] Around 20,000 people have fled to Manila as a result of the storm.[157]

Typhoon Haiyan has been acknowledged as a sort of "trauma milestone" for mental health awareness in the Philippines – where Filipinos had previously seen counseling as an admission of weakness, it began to be acknowledged as "a sign of how extraordinary the circumstances are."[158]

Debris littering the streets of Tacloban City on November 14, nearly a week after the storm struck

Devastation in the town of Basey, Samar, where more than 300 individuals perished due to storm surge

The United Nations said it was going to increase critical relief operations as a result of the devastation caused by the typhoon. Its Manila office issued a statement that read, "Access remains a key challenge as some areas are still cut off from relief operations. Unknown numbers of survivors do not have basic necessities such as food, water, and medicines and remain inaccessible for relief operations, as roads, airports, and bridges were destroyed or covered in wreckage."[249] The United Nations also began relief operations by this time; however, the severe damage to infrastructure hampered efforts to distribute supplies.[136] The UN activated the Cluster System, in which groups of humanitarian organizations (UN and non-UN) work to restore health, shelter, nutrition and economic activity.[250]

The World Health Organization, which leads the Health Cluster, the largest one, has developed guidance on donations of medicine and healthcare equipment so that the Philippines receives supplies appropriate for this emergency. According to WHO, many people suffered cuts, wounds, and broken bones during the disaster and others were injured in flooding that followed the typhoon.[251] Interpol announced that they would send in Interpol officers from Lyon to help local law enforcement identify any of the corpses that are unidentified.[252]

The World Health Organization has spearheaded initiatives among help workers, especially from the Department of Health (Philippines), in extending Psychological First Aid to people in typhoon-affected areas. WHO Representative in the country Dr Julie Hall foresees long-lasting effects from the typhoon. She calls for increased preparedness to give support to families and communities for the long-term, citing the need for more trained field workers.[253]

American band Journey donated $350,000 to help relief efforts in the Philippines, and its lead singer had a message for his homeland: "Don't Stop Believin'". Arnel Pineda (the band's Filipino vocalist) and the rest of the band announced the donation on November 15, 2013. It will go to the United Nations World Food Programme, which is providing Filipinos with food assistance. The donation should provide 1.4 million meals.[254] IKEA, Walmart, Samsung, and HSBC are among those taking advantage of the event to donate to those in need.[255][256] Northwestern Mutual announced they will donate $100,000 to the American Red Cross.[257] The Coca-Cola Company says they have donated $2.5 million of their advertising budget to the relief efforts as of November 25.[258] By mid-December, FIFA donated $1 million.[259] DHL deployed its Asia Pacific Disaster Response Team to the disaster areas to provide on-the-ground logistics support to assist with the relief effort in the aftermath of the devastating Typhoon Haiyan. Three rotating teams made up of volunteer employees from the Asia Pacific region were based at the Mactan Cebu Airport on Cebu island, providing support and assistance to the country's most affected areas west of Leyte Island, including Guiuan, Roxas, and Tacloban city.[260] Many smaller initiatives were founded as well – e.g. to prepare by donating to children a typhoon-ready backpack as a floating device.[261]

U.S. Marines assisting in the Philippine disaster relief

Sixteen-time NBA Champions Los Angeles Lakers donated $150,000[262] to the Philippine Red Cross to aid the typhoon-affected victims. During their home game against the Memphis Grizzlies, Kobe Bryant handed the check to the Junior NBA players representing the Philippines. His teammate, Pau Gasol, pledged to donate $1,000 per point to UNICEF[263] with the directive to help victims of Super Typhoon Haiyan in the country as well. He scored 24 points in a won game against the Golden State Warriors. Major League Baseball donated $200,000 to UNICEF and the American Red Cross, with Commissioner Bud Selig encouraging fans to donate to the organizations.[264] UNICEF delivered portable toilets and hygiene supplies to the region and also appealed for $34 million to help the four million children affected.[265] The American Red Cross announced that they collected $11 million in donations for the Philippines Relief Fund.[266] Mercy Corps dispatched an "emergency response" team to help with humanitarian efforts.[267] MAP International launched medical relief efforts providing over $10 million in medicines and supplies to the Philippines.

Among the NGO responses, among the most comprehensive disaster response came from the Taiwan-based "Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation". Archived from the original on November 29, 2014., which organized a large-scale cash-for-work program in Tacloban from Nov 20 to Dec 8 with up to 31,000 participants per day, totaling nearly 300,000-day shifts. This operation not only helped clean out the thousands of tons of debris covering the city, but also kick-started the local economy. Tzu Chi also contributed emergency cash aid of 8000, 12000 or 15000 pesos depending on family size for over 60,000 families in the affected areas of Tacloban, Ormoc, Palo, Tanauan and Tunga, and has been providing free clinics, hot meals, and temporary classrooms for over 15 schools in the area. Doctors Without Borders is sending 200 tons of aid.[247][268] The International Society for Krishna Consciousness's Food For Life Global, the world's largest vegan food relief organisation, raised money and provided vegan meals in the Philippines to Typhoon Haiyan survivors.[269][270] Other NGOs run by faith-based organisations that raised money and/or aided in the disaster relief efforts of Typhoon Haiyan included Catholic Relief Services,[271] Catholic Medical Mission Board (CMMB),[271] Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA),[271] LDS Philanthropies,[272] American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (AJJDC),[271] Samaritan's Purse,[271] Salvation Army,[271] Christian Children's Fund of Canada,[271] MAP International and World Vision.[271] International Responders for Emergencies and Disasters endured the storm and despite losing equipment and personnel, they contributed to over $100,000 in aid and supplied rescuer workers for 3 months.[273]

The Iglesia ni Cristo (INC), the largest indigenous Christian church based in the Philippines held series of massive relief distributions and medical and dental missions to affected population of the storm to different parts of Visayas.[274] The humanitarian mission was done under the "Lingap sa Mamamayan" (Aid for Humanity) project in cooperation with the Felix Y. Manalo (FYM) Foundation Inc., the INC's charitable arm.[275][276] The church conducted the largest walk for a cause in the world (walkathon) on February 15, 2014, dubbed as 'Iglesia ni Cristo World Wide Walk for Those Affected by Typhoon Yolanda/Haiyan'.[277][278] The walk for a cause raised millions of money to help the victims of the super typhoon for the construction of their houses and shelters. The aim of the activity is to make the world understand that Haiyan survivors are still in dire need of help and financial assistance. Indeed, the worldwide walk caught the attention of the world when it broke two Guinness world records as the largest charity walk in a single venue (Manila, Philippines) with 175,000 participants, and largest charity walk in 24 hours for multiple venues (from Christchurch, New Zealand to Hawaii, USA) in 13 time zones, 54 countries, 24 hours with 519, 521 participants.[279][280]

Celebrities such as David and Victoria Beckham,[281] Stephen Colbert,[282] Kim Kardashian, David Guetta,[283] and The X Factor contributed to the fundraising.[284] On November 26, iTunes released a compilation album entitled Songs for the Philippines featuring different artists, including Katy Perry, Madonna, Bob Dylan, and The Beatles.[285] All proceeds will go to the Philippine Red Cross.[285] OneRepublic donated $100,000 on November 30, 2013.[286] Other celebrities that offered their support included Linkin Park, The Offspring,[287] Alicia Keys,[288] and Justin Bieber.[289] To promote 20th Century Fox's upcoming film The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, the studio hired YouTube personality & filmmaker Casey Neistat to make a promotional video based on the theme, "live your dreams", but Neistat suggested instead to spend the budget on bringing disaster relief to the Philippines. Fox agreed and gave him a budget of $25,000 to fund his relief plans, and personally visited Tacloban to aid donation efforts there.[290][291]

On the day of his death, actor Paul Walker attended a charity event for his organization, Reach Out Worldwide, for the victims of the typhoon that was held right before his accident.[292]

On March 11, 2014, a benefit concert called The Pinoy Relief Benefit Concert was held at Madison Square Garden in New York, City. Jennifer Hudson, Pentatonix, A Great Big World, Plain White T's, Jessica Sanchez, Charice, and REO Brothers performed. Special guests also included Dr. Oz, Dante Basco, Bobby Lopez, Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Apl.de.ap. 100% of proceeds raised directly went to the Typhoon Haiyan survivors.[293] Pinoy Relief was created to help survivors and focus on three specific areas: restoring livelihoods, building classrooms and providing shelter in partnership with local NGOs, Habitat for Humanity Philippines and Operation Blessing Philippines.[294]

On March 13, 2016, former United States of America vice president Al Gore, visited Tacloban and delivered his speech in front of the survivors of Haiyan. He also visited the MV Eva Jocelyn, a cargo ship forced inland during the typhoon and now converted into a memorial park.[295]

First UK-funded humanitarian flight arrives at Mactan–Cebu International Airport.

The island of Binuluanguan overflown by a helicopter from HMS Daring

The aid contributions of China and the United States were given focus with regards to their involvement in the politics of the Philippines.[296] Apart from having the two largest economies in the world, both countries are involved in a complex relationship with the island country. China is currently disputing the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea with the Philippines while the United States used to be an occupying power and currently has a mutual defense treaty with the islands.[297] American news media initially criticized China for its contribution of US$100,000 cash each from the government and the Chinese Red Cross to the typhoon victims, which led to commentary about its disputes with the Philippines.[298] Earlier in 2013, the Philippines sued China over the nine-dotted line. Western commentators attribute this low amount to China's intentions to isolate the Philippines while strengthening its ties with the rest of Southeast Asia.[299] The move had mixed reactions from the public of China with some commending its decision while others, such as The Global Times, insisted that China should be a responsible power. China later increased its contributions by US$1.64 million in supplies[173][300] and sent its naval hospital ship Peace Ark for disaster relief."[174]

The United States gave the Philippines an amount of US$51.9 million worth of aid and deployed the United States Marines, United States Navy and United States Air Force in order to assist with the humanitarian operations.[301] The Philippine government had been discussing with the U.S. plans regarding the deployment of U.S. military troops within the country.[302] This was part of the "Asia pivot" that the United States government had previously announced, a foreign policy strategy widely viewed as a plan to contain China, encircle it militarily, and prevent it from competing with American political influence in the region; the calculated giving of humanitarian aid is a tool which the United States uses to achieve its geopolitical aims.[303]

In November 2013, the island of the Philippines was struck by one of the strongest tropical cyclones recorded in history, the Haiyan. More than 6000 lives were lost and it devastated towns as homes, schools, and hospitals were in ruins. Many vital infrastructures were destroyed by this cyclone, including the water and power systems. As each water pump costs US$4000 and a generator and piping system costs almost US$20,000, the local government of the Philippines is struggling to pay for recovery. Two years after this event, to help locals have access to clean water, an initiative called the Tolosa Water Systems was started by the MBA students from the National University of Singapore. This project is in works with a non-profit organization SIBAT and supported by a $44,000 grant awarded by Total S.A., an energy company. This project will promote the use of technology to address energy and water access issues. It will create a complete water distribution system that runs pipes to each household. It is sustainable and effective for areas like Tolosa, where infrastructure is still in ruins because this system runs and relies on two natural resources: sun and sand to provide clean water. This water system will install seven biosand filtration and five solar-powered water pumps that will remove pathogens, solids and unwanted color, odor, and taste from the local drinking water. The solar-powered water pumps were designed to take advantage of Tolosa's daily 11 hours of sunlight. The new system will produce 5000 to 10,000 gallons of water daily and the cost of each system costs approximately US$15,000 to US$20,000. Though it is at an expense, importantly, this biosand and solar system do not substantially recur costs. Having access to clean water is a fundamental right, and a crucial factor for developing countries to develop and succeed. The students behind this project plan to spread their work in other parts of the Philippines.

Following Typhoon Haiyan's landfall in Vietnam, widespread search and rescue missions took place in the affected provinces. Damage assessments were also conducted in 13 provinces to determine what aid was needed. The IFRC began distribution of relief supplies and assisted residents in returning home by November 12. Operations regarding the aftermath of Typhoon Wutip were temporarily suspended due to Haiyan.[49]

Political leaders and climate scientists connected the typhoon to climate change, both at the time and subsequently[304] and led to calls for climate justice.[305] The 2013 United Nations Climate Change Conference was coincidentally in progress when the typhoon struck and Yeb Saño, the lead negotiator of the Philippines delegation, received a standing ovation at the conference when he declared a hunger strike.

In solidarity with my countrymen who are struggling to find food back home, I will now commence a voluntary fasting for the climate; this means I will voluntarily refrain from eating food during this COP, until a meaningful outcome is in sight.

— Yeb Saño[306]

Several delegates, including American delegate Collin Reese, joined him in fasting. Sixty people from Climate Action Network, an umbrella group of environmental non-governmental organisations, also joined the hunger strike.[307]

The correlation between the increasing intensity of storms and the progression of climate change was discussed by climate scientists. "Typhoons, hurricanes and all tropical storms draw their vast energy from the warmth of the sea. We know sea-surface temperatures are warming pretty much around the planet, so that's a pretty direct influence of climate change on the nature of the storm", said Will Steffen, director of the Australian National University climate change institute.[308] Myles Allen, head of the climate dynamics group at the University of Oxford, said that "The current consensus is that climate change is not making the risk of hurricanes any greater, but there are physical arguments and evidence that there is a risk of more intense hurricanes."[308] The Huffington Post made the point that the 70% deforestation of the Philippines since 1900, as reported by the national Forest Management Bureau, made far more lethal flooding from cyclones like Haiyan more likely.[309] The IPCC Fifth Assessment Report had stated in September of the same year that "Time series of cyclone indices such as power dissipation, an aggregate compound of tropical cyclone frequency, duration, and intensity that measures total wind energy by tropical cyclones, show upward trends in the North Atlantic and weaker upward trends in the western North Pacific since the late 1970s."[308]