Australia Opens Field Hospital for Typhoon Haiyan Victims in Philippines

As part of relief efforts for Typhoon Haiyan-hit Philippines, the Australian contingent has set-up a field hospital to help treat the sick and injured survivors.

Bill Tweddell, Australia's Ambassador to the Philippines, visited the Australiian emergency hospital on Nov. 17 in Tacloban. The field hospital set-up by the Australian team is equipped with an emergency and resuscitation team with two surgeons. Field nurses are also on-site run an operating room, recovery room and ward.

According to volunteer doctor Brian Spain, the city's operating facilities and equipments are not functional due to the loss of power. Australia's field hospital is crucial in treating serious medical conditions.

Dr Spain said he has seen patients suffering from serious obstructed hernias with bowel obstructions. He said the people may have normally sought medical care early on but the town has no more proper medical facility.

Mr Spain said the injured survivors of Typhoon Haiyan in central Philippines could die within a week or at most ten days if they are left untreated and have no access to surgery. The Australian doctor said Typhoon Haiyan has left Tacloban City unrecognizable.

He said he was in the city three weeks ago for the commemoration of General Douglas MacArthur's landing in Leyte Gulf. The general came back from Australia to reclaim the Philippines. Mr Spain said he doesn't recognise Tacloban after the Category 5 typhoon struck. The devastation that he has seen has affected many lives even those working in the Australian embassy.

Australia's field hospital can accommodate 50 beds with enough supplies to treat 3,500 typhoon victims and have 20 surgeries.

The Philippines is now facing the enormous task of rebuilding and rehabilitation from the sheer devastation brought by Typhoon Haiyan which has already killed 3,974 people and displaced 4 million people. Isolated towns have yet to receive aid despite the outpouring of international aid into the country.

Australia's Prime Minister Tony Abbott has announced a further increase in aid making the country's total contribution to $30 million as the Philippines tragedy caused major problems with logistics causing more delay in the delivery of relief goods to typhoon victims.

Mr Abbott said the additional funds will be used to address children's health, nutrition and protection of needs. The additional aid can also be used to fund logistical support and the purchase of food and non-food items.