The United Nations (UN) Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said the international community has continued to scale up support for Typhoon Haiyan victims a month after it made landfall in the Philippines, Xinhua news agency reported.

NONE“Humanitarian needs remain enormous with nearly 15 million people affected, including 4 million displaced people and more than 1 million homes destroyed,” UN spokesperson Martin Nesirky said at a daily news briefing in New York.

“The UN and its partners are focusing their efforts on reaching the most vulnerable with emergency food, shelter, health and water, sanitation and hygiene assistance and protection services,” he said.

Typhoon Haiyan struck the Philippine archipelago on Nov 8 and has claimed at least 4,000 lives to date.

The OCHA said of the US$348 million requested for immediate aid, some US$168 million has been received.

NONEOn Friday, Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in the Philippines Luiza Carvalho urged the international community to continue providing support to victims of the typhoon.

“Visiting Tacloban today, I see big differences from my first visit, almost one month ago,” Carvalho said.

“The airport is operational, fuel is available, the water system is reconnected, people are receiving assistance and the town hall is functioning.”

UN humanitarian agencies said the scale of damage caused by the typhoon remains immense and challenges over the coming months will include reopening damaged schools and public buildings and restoring public services.

- Bernama