Philippines begins recovery effort

After typhoon Washi hit the Philippines over the weekend, the government has begun recovery efforts. The latest casualty counts say that nearly 1,000 people have been killed.

The typhoon struck the island of Mindanao, where IRIN reports that nearly 700,000 people are still displaced from floods earlier this year. Filipino President Benigno Aquino has declared a national calamity, which will release more funds for the recovery efforts.  He has also ordered an investigation to find out why the region was so unprepared for Washi. In some of the harder-hit areas, storm damage is hampering relief efforts.

According to AlertNet:

• Over 338,000 people are affected
• Nearly 43,000 have been displaced to schools, churches and gymnasiums
• More than 10,000 houses were damaged
• Over $340,000 worth of crops in the early planting stage were damaged

For more information, see the articles in IRIN News, AlertNet, and the BBC.