THE PHILIPPINE PRESIDENT Benigno Aquino has declared a national state of calamity as the country continues to deal with the aftermath of Typhoon Haiyan.

The declaration allows the government to impose price controls and quickly release emergency funds three days after the typhoon flattened entire towns.

Countless bodies have been scattered across wastelands with desperation building as communities are left without food, water and medicine.

(An aerial image taken from a Philippine Air Force in Guiuan, Eastern Samar province. AP Photo/Bullit Marquez)

A national emergency has also  been declared with security forces struggling to contain looting.

“In the coming days, be assured, help will reach you faster and faster,” Aquino said in a televised address.

“My appeal to you all is: remaining calm, praying, cooperating with, and assisting one another are the things that will help us to rise from this calamity.”

US marines have joined the effort to rescue famished survivors of the typhoon that may have killed 10,000 people.

Irish aid

Yesterday, the Irish Government announced a €1 million fund for emergency aid to help with the relief effort. Tánaiste Éamon Gilmore said today that the Government is working closely with aid agencies with communications a major problem being faced:

Irish organisation Dóchas, which acts as an umbrella group for Irish aid agencies, has set up website HowYouCanHelp.ie to provide information to those who wish to help with the relief effort.

“This website sets out the principles of good emergency relief, and the many ways in which members of the public can assist the Irish aid agencies to do their work,” said Dóchas director Hans Zomer.

Additional reporting by © – AFP

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