Typhoon Victims Forced to Survive on Coconut Juice

Death toll in the Philippines hits 3.6K
By Evann Gastaldo,  Newser Staff
Posted Nov 16, 2013 10:33 AM CST
Typhoon Victims Forced to Survive on Coconut Juice
Typhoon survivors shelter themselves against the rains while waiting for an evacuation flight at the airport, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2013, in Tacloban, Leyte province, central Philippines.   (AP Photo/Vincent Yu)

The Typhoon Haiyan death toll in the Philippines is up to 3,633, with 12,487 injured and at least 1,179 still missing. The AP describes the "hellish daily routine" undertaken by survivors, who dig through the debris and filth in the hope of finding the bodies of their loved ones. Many bodies pulled from the rubble are in body bags lining the road; others were likely swept out to sea and may never be found.

And in some areas, there is a "total absence of food and water," an official said yesterday, according to the Philippine News Agency (as cited by Fox News). "Some victims survived on coconut juice." But now a top UN humanitarian official says things are turning around, with 107,500 people having received food assistance and others receiving medical assistance as part of an international aid effort. (More Philippines stories.)

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