Typhoon Haiyan Diary: On the Ground in Tacloban

It's great to be part of the UNICEF immediate response team that were rushed into the Philippines after the devastation of super typhoon Haiyan. We are a group of emergency professionals specializing in health, education, child protection, water and sanitation, supply, logistics, indication and other issues.

I was out today with the RTE Irish TV crew and later on with the German ZDF-TV crew, bumping into the Spanish ANC newspaper correspondent along the way as we saw visited victims of the typhoon - who have truly lost everything (I mean there is nothing left of their homes or belongings).  Well, they haven't lost everything ... I am inspired by their kindness and hopeful outlook in the face of devastation.

Sitting in the blazing heat and humidity in front of what indiscernibly was once her home, a woman wished me a good morning with a big smile as I walked by, followed by a "Happy Yolanda!" and a peal of laughter. I asked her how she was and she said, "Things can only get better!" and then asked me how I was doing ... We talked for a bit as another  one of the body bag trucks passed by with their distinct smell. She didn't bat an eyelid.

Read his full account here.