Relief ops improving but more coordination needed: Oxfam

MANILA -- International relief and development organization Oxfam on Thursday said relief efforts in areas devastated by super typhoon "Yolanda" are already improving, but admitted that getting relief into some areas continues to be a struggle. Speaking with "Mornings @ ANC," Oxfam's country director in the Philippines Justin Morgan said, with roads opening up, they hope to get much needed aid to areas in Northern Cebu, especially those that remain isolated, by the end of the day. But he emphasized the need for more coordination in relief distribution efforts in typhoon-ravaged areas. "Things are opening up now, but they are opening up primarily around the main cities. The isolated areas are still without support... Logistics is the problem at the moment and we are overcoming that in time. The next thing is coordination. When we're there, we need to make sure we're going to the right places and not everybody is going," he said. Morgan said the scale of devastation wrought by Yolanda was overwhelming not just to them but also to the government. He noted that government and many organizations had prepositioned relief supplies before the massive typhoon hit central Philippines. However, much of the goods were lost during the onslaught of the typhoon. "We also must understand that the infrastructure that the government had and the people who worked for the government in those areas are devastated," he added. "We also have had [earthquake in] Bohol that has depleted resources in a way that people are still recovering from that," he said. Nonetheless, Morgan said aid groups should not lose track of their main priority, which is to get food, water, medicine and shelter to affected communities at the soonest time possible. He also said that the Philippines should "make most" of the aid and assistance given by countries from around the world and other international organizations. "It has been great, the leadership government is providing given the circumstances. They are overwhelmed like many of us are." "Let's make the most of this. Let's make sure that we don't lose our priorities at this time -- food, water, shelter, medicines. And let's make sure the most vulnerable are getting the support," he said. -- With ANC