Typhoon Haiyan, known as Typhoon Yolanda in the Philippines, was an exceptionally powerful tropical cyclone that devastated portions of Southeast Asia, particularly the Philippines, on 8 November 8, 2013. It was the deadliest Philippine typhoon on record,killing at least 6,201 people in that country alone. Haiyan is also the strongest storm recorded at landfall, and unofficially the strongest typhoon ever recorded in terms of wind speed, It had winds in excess of 185km/h which caused major damage and loss of life mainly due to the storm surge that accompanied it. In its wake it left a path of death and destruction through most of the provinces in Visayas. 

According to the National Risk Reduction and Management Council, to date there are 6,201 dead, 28,626 injured with 1,785 still missing across nine regions in the Philippines. It is estimated that 11 million people were affected by the storm’s damage with 4 million displaced from their homes, and a cost to infrastructure and agriculture of more than £5 billion.

The news of this cataclysmic storm drew extensive international news coverage, which in turn galvanized a huge relief efforts both locally and internationally.  International aid pledges alone amounted to USD 573 million according to Foreign Aid Transparency Hub (FAiTH) from different countries and international organizations.  As of Februrary 2014 USD 13 million has actually been delivered.

The major focus of devastation has been on Tacloban City, located on the east coast of Samar and Leyte because of its location and the large population in low lying areas.  The storm surge in Tacloban had been as high as 4.5 meters and caused flooding extending more than a kilometer inland on the east coast. Almost 90 percent of the building structures were either destroyed or damaged and some 2,000 lost their lives in Tacloban alone.

Roland Nagy
http://www.rolandnagy.com/

Anibong was almost completely destroyed during the typhoon. Six container ships have been swept to shore which are still seen waiting to be removed from the ground. Meanwhile local people started to rebuild their homes from materials found among the debris. 6 January 2014

Judel Suberon (23), a licensed security guard works for M/V Gayle, a cargo ship carrying 25,000 bags of cement waiting to be removed from the land back to sea. January 5, 2014. Barangay Anibong, Tacloban.

The church entrance bears announcements of missing relatives and purple ribbons in memory of the dead. Around 4,000 dead people had been buried unidentified. Cathedral of the Transfiguration of Our Lord in Palo, Tacloban. January 5, 2014

The Leyte Landing Memorial in Red Beach, Palo, Leyte. January 5, 2014

Chu Euidam (24) PFC in the 500-member South Korean military contingent taking part in the rehabilitation. January 6, 2014

Rayneil Caminong (27), a civil engineer on his regular morning run along Maharlika Highway in Tacloban. January 06, 2014 Tacloban, Philippines.

Scene of devastation in Barangay 56-A Tacloban January 6, 2014

Girby (8) and Alvin (10), friends had evacuated to higher grounds from Barangay Anibong, one of the most destroyed areas by storm surge in Tacloban. January 5, 2014

A crew member sleeps inside the M/V Eva Jocelyn, a cargo ship washed ashore and currently sitting next to the road in Barangay Anibong. January 6, 2014

Ranie Bacaltos (50), a quartermaster seen inside the M/V Eva Jocelyn, a cargo ship washed ashore. The ship’s loads of 4,000 bags of cement were ruined during the storm. However, the ship itself was not damaged and is waiting to be moved back to sea in a few weeks. January 6, 2014

Religious relics are safely placed at the back of the Cathedral of the Transfiguration of Our Lord in Palo, along with a statue of San Lorenzo Luiz, a Filipino saint on the left. January 6, 2014

Military personal from South Korean aid in the relief effort..

Imelda M. Gayas is the school principal of San Fernando Central School, one of the badly damaged school in Tacloban as it is located only 100 meters from the shore. As fourteen of its classrooms collapsed, around 1,200 students were displaced. The school is currently operating in temporary tents donated by Unicef and the American Red Cross. January 6, 2014. Tacloban

Sixth grade of San Fernando Central School are in a newl- built classroom donated by by a charity foundation of ABS-CBN, a Filipino TV channel. ABS-CBN Foundation built four classrooms and provided school supplies, uniforms, and books.

Inside a classroom of San Fernando Central School

Lesley (23), a member of Batang Samar Leyte (BSL), a local gang has all of his belongings swept away during the typhoon. Anibong, Tacloban. January 5, 2014.

Survivors often set up small shops called sari-sari stores. Anibong, Tacloban. January 6, 2014.

Junel (21), Mark (19), Arnold (44), Jeron (21), (left to right) and Rolando (19), (front) work in a mass grave site located in the Holy Cross Memorial Garden, Barangay Diit. One hundered forty six identified bodies are buried in this site. January 6. 2014.

The locals were deployed by the United Nations Development Programme as part of the cash-for-work scheme. More than 200 of them are paid 260 pesos (5.8USD) daily to manually clear targeted zones of the worst affected communities. January 6, 2014.

Wenna (18), and Laarmi (21), cousins are taking part in the clearing operation as part the cash-for-work scheme of United Nations Development Programme.They being paid 260PHP (5.8USD) per day. January 6, 2014.

Romeo Cabus, (55) a local resident who is taking part in the cleaning operation points to the place where a dead body is still buried by the debris. January 6, 2014

Leyte Provincial Hospital. January 7 2014

Rosela Diaz (37), from Barangay 35-A, Tacloban among other survivors rely on relief goods from DSWD. January 5, 2014.

Teresa Balano (34) currently lives in her aunt’s one bedroom house with her husband, three children, mother and three siblings. As a high school teacher she earns 18,000PHP(398 USD) per month, a meagre salary that will take her years to save and buy or build a suitable home for her family without outside help. She is seen here at Leyte Provincial Hospital with her third child, Renz Genesis (9 days) after a medical check up. San Miguel, Tanauan, Leyte, January 7, 2014.