A US aircraft carrier and its escort of two cruisers are due to arrive off the Philippines to help communities devastated by Typhoon Haiyan, called Yolanda in the Philippines. The USS George Washington will bring the capacity to desalinate large amounts of water – potable water is in short supply in the worst-hit areas.

Australia is now hiking its total aid contribution to A$30 Million and deploying extra defense staff to help the Philippines deal with the disaster.  Japan is sending 1,000 troops and some naval ships to help out in Tacloban City, joining the Aussies, Americans, and aid shipments from all over the world.

Three Aussies feared dead in the super typhoon that ravaged the Philippines have made contact with relatives.  66-year old Errol Mitchell, 37-year old Margie Mitchell, and 44-year old Chris Hesselberg were caught in the middle of the storm in the town of Alangalang on Leyte Island.  With roads covered with debris and communications down, they had to hike some 20 kilometers to get to Tacloban City, where emergency relief efforts are centered.  They are alive but their ordeal isn’t over.

There is growing criticism for President Benigno Aquino for his government’s the lackluster relief efforts.  Essential supplies are failing to reach many of those in need.  Food and other goods are stacked up at the airport in Tacloban.  Frustration is rampant, and desperate survivors have been taking things into their own hands, running on food stocks and taking what they need.

Aquino also raised eyebrows when he downplayed the expected death toll from 10,000 to 2,000 yesterday.  Since then, the confirmed number of lives lost is 2,357.  It’s expected to go higher.

“It’s scary,” said Tacloban City Mayor Alfred Romualdez, “There is a request from a community to come and collect bodies, they say it's five or 10.  When we get there it's 40.”