Philippines Relief Effort
The BBC has a round-up of the relief effort. The biggest problem is distribution, because the infrastructure on the affected islands was destroyed by the storm. There is no power, water, roads, airports, or or much of anything else left standing. C-130s are the only large aircraft able to use what is left of the airstrips, and there are no communications or lighting to help.
The USS George Washington and its carrier task force will arrive tomorrow, which will really boost the number of available helicopters, plus provide air traffic control to the area, and a source of fuel for aircraft and drinking water for people.
Supplies are available, but the Philippines government doesn’t have the resources to move and distribute them to the millions who needs help.
