TYPHOON HAIYAN: UN DONATES COMMUNICATION EQUIPMENT TO HELP RELIEF EFFORT by Sonny Jones

The United Nations has donated telecommuniation equipment that included Satelite Phones and laptops to the relief effort in typhoon ravaged Phillipines.

The International Telecommunication Union (ITU), an Agency of the United Nations, responded to urgent requests amidst difficulties engendered by lack of communication infracture, after the storm.

The devastating typhoon which caused massive destruction to lives and buildings, also destroyed communication equipment and early responders to the crisis were unable to communicate with their home countries and other agencies.

Information released by the UN News Centre said it stepped in to provide the equipment to the to the World Health Organization (WHO) and Philippines Government crisis response units.

The UN said the ITU will `donate satellite terminals for both voice and high-speed data to WHO to support its emergency humanitarian work' in Philippines.

The killed several thousands of people, swept out buildigs and flattened towns, affecting millions or people and left many displaced and in need of food aid.

* Twitter: @woolwichonline.