Posted: 11/13/2013 at 12:45pm | IP Logged

Desperation Sparks Philippines Looting Rampage

Video>

Source: CBN News

Philippines authorities say eight people were crushed to death during a looting rampage as thousands of typhoon survivors stormed a rice warehouse.

In many places, survivors are taking matters into their own hands, loading up trucks to deliver food to the starving. It's a critical need.

"We can survive without these houses. It's ok for us, anywhere...sleep anywhere, but we need food, only food," one typhoon survivor said.

The other basic need: water. Some have even resorted to straining it through their shirts.

Meanwhile, relief is starting to trickle in, with CBN Disaster Relief delivering boxes of food right off the plane.

Find out how you can help. Give to CBN Disaster Relief.

"We have lots of water which is really badly needed in those areas," CBN News Correspondent Lucille Talusan in the Philippines said.

"We have canned goods, sardines, rice, we have tents and mats and blankets," she continued. "We also have stuffed toys because hundreds of thousands of children were traumatized during the typhoon."

But flying is one of the top challenges.

The airport in Tacloban still has no radar or working air traffic control system. Planes must circle above and take turns using the runway. Even after landing, there's often a logjam on the roads, which are too damaged or flooded to pass.

"Some of the challenges we've had so far with the situation on the ground is purely to do with the logistics and planning and trying to get support services up and running," Dirk Taylor, with the Royal Australian Air Force, said.

On the ground, bodies lie unattended in the roads and everywhere, adding to the misery.

"It's just really death and devastation everywhere. People need help. People need help," John Wynn, a U.S. missionary, said.

So far, authorities have confirmed over 2,200 deaths and 3,600 injuries. The president now says the final death toll could be 2,500 -- far less than the original 10,000 deaths feared.