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MANILA. — Grieving survivors of a monster typhoon that smashed into the mainly Catholic Philippines flocked to shattered churches yesterday, as aid workers intensified efforts to reach desperate survivors in remote communities. Residents of one isolated village jostled each other and strained their arms upwards against the powerful down-draft from a helicopter as it hovered just feet above them with boxes with food, television footage showed.

The cartons were pushed from the chopper, setting off a frenzied scramble, as the villagers tore apart the packing and scurried away with the contents.

The helicopter was from the USS George Washington aircraft carrier, which has galvanised the initially slow aid operation since it arrived Thursday. It immediately began airlifting large volumes of relief supplies to inland airstrips and hard-to-access communities.

Many still face a daily battle for survival after the November 8 super-storm, packing some of the strongest winds ever recorded, ripped their world apart.

The United Nations raised its estimate for the number of people displaced from 1,9 million to 3.0 million, while the official death toll rose to 3 976 with 1 590 people missing.

The enormous international relief operation picked up momentum over the weekend, bringing food, water and medical supplies and airlifting basic necessities to remote mountainous areas.

President Benigno Aquino, who has been criticised for the slow speed of his government’s response, called for understanding as he toured some of the worst-hit areas yesterday.

“Please have patience. These affected areas are really spread out,” Aquino said, while acknowledging that more needed to be done.
The president said he would remain in the affected area for several days, or until he was “satisfied” the situation had improved.
The church services offered a brief respite from the misery. — AFP.