UN exec impressed by quick recovery of Yolanda-hit areas

U.S. Marines provide safe drinking water to typhoon survivors Thursday Nov. 21, 2013 at Tacloban city, Leyte province in central Philippines. AP FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—A senior adviser from the United Nations was impressed by the immediate recovery and response of Filipinos after Supertyphoon Yolanda left unprecedented damage in central Philippines.

Yuri Afanisiev, Senior Recovery Advisor of the United Nations Development Program, said that he has “hardly ever” seen a response so quick after a disaster strikes.

“I have hardly ever seen a response so quick than that of the Philippines,” Afanisiev said.

Despite what Afanisiev’s observation on an “unstructured” response, it was still quick enough to merit his amazement.

“The response was unstructured but units have immediately responded to the situation,” Afanisiev said.

The UN advisor said he has never seen a recovery time so compressed at the aftermath of a big disaster such as Yolanda, saying that early recovery was already achieved on the third week of the event.

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