The United Nations is calling for a quicker response to relief operations in the Philippines after Typhoon Haiyan left some parts of Visayas devastated. The strongest typhoon to ever hit the country has affected the lives of nearly 12 million people and claimed 4,460 lives, almost twice the official count of 2,360 by government officials, according to UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Amanda Pitt, the UN Office spokeswoman, said the Philippine government reported the 2,360 figure.

A spokesman for the NDRRMC, the nation's disaster and rescue management, Reynaldo Balido said in an interview in the morning of Nov.15 that the UN count was not true and insisted on the 2,360 figure.

Philippine President Benigno Aquino III had earlier predicted the death toll to be between 2,000 and 2,500, and said higher estimates of 10,000 made by local officials were influenced by "emotional drama." Police chief Elmer Soria was removed from his post after predicting the 10,000 expected deaths which was quoted by local and international media.

Most of the people who survived the strength of Typhoon Haiyan, locally known as Yolanda, are still waiting for food, water and medicine to arrive. Boxes of relief goods have begun to arrive but most are still piled up in military bases and airports. Problems with logistics have kept aid from getting to the people who need it the most.

UN Humanitarian Chief Valerie Amos said the victims of the Category 5 storm in Samar and Leyte provinces have fought for limited relief goods. Some have died waiting for help to arrive.

Dismal situation

Ms Amos said "the situation is dismal" as people become increasingly vulnerable to disease, dehydration and starvation six days after Typhoon Haiyat wreaked havoc. She said in a press briefing in Manila that the fast delivery of aid is the UN's immediate priority,

Ms Amos said that people badly need food, water, medicine and shelter and all of the basics must be given to them right away. Six days had passed but bodies still litter the streets of Tacloban City, the capital of Leyte province. Recovered bodies in body bags are rotting away while waiting for their mass graves.

Ms Amos said they were "extremely distressed" that it was Day Six and not everyone has been given aid. Despite having UN staff on the ground, she was personally concerned that they had not been able to reach the people who badly need the basic amenities.

After visiting Tacloban, Ms Amos talked about the frustration of relief workers and local officials over the delays in aid delivery. Debris-clogged roads, bad weather, limited fuel and lack of communications were cited as major factors to the delay of aid. Workers on the ground also cited the virtual lack of government coordination which further hampered the arrival of relief amid the sheer scale of Typhoon Haiyan's destructive force.

She felt "we have let people down" because aid did not come fast enough. However, since the arrival of more aid from other countries, she said relief operations are "scaling up significantly."

There is growing criticism and pressure on the Philippine government and President Aquino to speed up relief operations. Undersecretary Eduardo del Rosario has stressed that the government is doing the best it can and regarded the criticisms against the government as only "subjective."

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