Philippines typhoon death toll at 4,460: UN

A mother and her children walk through a flooded street after a downpour in the aftermath of super typhoon Haiyan in Tacloban city, central Philippines, November 14, 2013. Philippine President Benigno Aquino was under growing pressure on Thursday to speed up the distribution of food, water and medicine to desperate survivors of a powerful typhoon and to revive paralysed local governments. [Photo/Agencies]

UNITED NATIONS - The United Nations, citing Philippines government figures, on Thursday put the latest death toll from powerful Typhoon Haiyan at 4,460 - almost double the last official number given, but still less than the 10,000 estimated by local authorities.

"As of November 13, the government reported that 4,460 people have died," the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said in its daily situation report, issued out of Manila and dated November 14.

Aquino under pressure to speed up aid

Philippine President Benigno Aquino was under growing pressure on Thursday to speed up the distribution of food, water and medicine to desperate survivors of a super typhoon as a US aircraft carrier "strike group" arrived to get supplies moving.

While international relief efforts have picked up, many petrol station owners whose businesses were spared have refused to reopen, leaving little fuel for trucks needed to move supplies and medical teams around the devastated areas nearly a week after Typhoon Haiyan struck. [Full story]

US carrier starts Philippine storm relief

A US aircraft carrier "strike group" started unloading food and water to the typhoon-ravaged central Philippines on Thursday, as President Benigno Aquino faced mounting pressure to speed up the distribution of supplies.

While relief efforts picked up, local authorities began burying the dead - an important, if grim, milestone for a city shredded by one of the world's most powerful typhoons and the tsunami-like wall of seawater believed to have killed thousands. [Full story]

Deadly looting in Philippines

Desperation gripped Philippine islands devastated by Typhoon Haiyan as looting turned deadly on Wednesday and survivors panicked over delays in supplies of food, water and medicine. Some resorted to digging up underground water pipes and smashing them open.

Five days after one of the strongest storms ever recorded slammed into cities and towns in the central Philippines, anger and frustration spiked on Wednesday as essential supplies became scarce. Some survivors scrawled signs reading, "Help us". [Full story]