After Typhoon Haiyan
More than two weeks after the super typhoon swept over the Southeast Asian island nation, the situation in many places is still catastrophic. International aid is only gradually arriving to where it's needed.
Reconstruction at a snail's pace
Many villages and vast areas in the Philippines are still completely devastated. It could take weeks, or even months, before residents can return and start to rebuild. While people living in the larger cities have already started reconstruction on shops and homes, remote island regions have only now begun to receive relief supplies.
Living under plastic sheeting
Countless people have been left homeless by the typhoon. Many of them are now living in makeshift tent cities, as seen here in Tacloban.
Supplies from above
Hundreds of thousands are still dependent on food relief from home and abroad. Initially, the Philippine authorities were unable to supply the population with even the basic necessities. In the meantime, however, things have improved.
The search for food
There are, however, still many typhoon victims who cannot be provided with food. Supplies are scarce, especially in remote areas. In the port of Merida, children fish for scraps and families beg on the streets.
Mothers and children in distress
According to the UN humanitarian chief Valerie Amos, 1.5 million children are still at risk of malnutrition. Around 800,000 pregnant women and nursing mothers are also in dire need of food. The World Bank has now doubled its aid to $480 million (354 million euros).
Clearing the way
Most roads have now been cleared. This was a particularly important task, allowing relief supplies to be transported without difficulty. Organizations like the German Federal Agency for Technical Relief (THW) have provided tractors and trucks for the purpose.
Scavenging supplies
Most work is done by hand - if the people are lucky, the necessary building materials are available. In Ormoc, the residents have scavenged wooden planks, nails and rope from the rubble.
Livelihood destroyed
Before the typhoon struck, 80,000 chickens lived on this farm on the island of Bantayan. A third of the birds did not survive, and the remaining chickens are now suffering in the sweltering heat. The owner is trying to cover the cages with a makeshift shelter. He isn't able to find proper building materials at the moment because the demand is too great.
Water shortages
Restoring the water supply is one of the most difficult tasks, and one of the most important. Without clean water, diseases - or even epidemics - threaten lives. In many places, the water still has to be delivered in cans and plastic bottles. Germany has been helping restore water treatment plants.
Return to civilization
The typhoon cut off the power supply to whole areas, and it's only gradually being restored. Many utility poles have fallen and must be replaced, while others have been completely destroyed.
Drying off
Schools are still closed across most of the crisis region. At this school in Daanbantayan, the textbooks need to dry in the sun - a few days ago, everything was still soaked from the storm.
Hope amid the rubble
Even if the only thing left of a house is a few boards, sometimes there are small moments of happiness - such as when a favorite guitar is discovered in the wreckage, unscathed.