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The Philippine government struggled to defend its efforts to deliver assistance to victims of Typhoon Haiyan, many of whom have still received little since the storm struck a week ago.
"In a situation like this, nothing is fast enough," Interior Secretary Mar Roxas pleaded in Tacloban.
"The need is massive, the need is immediate and you can't reach everyone."
Meanwhile, the number of confirmed dead continued to rise, jumping more than 1,200 to 3,621, according to National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council director Eduardo del Rosario.
Despite denials by President Benigno Aquino, officials still estimate that the final toll could exceed 10,000.
At least 600,000 people have been displaced and authorities are struggling to meet their immediate needs.
However, the pace of the aid effort has picked up over the last 24 hours.
Foreign governments were dispatching food, water, medical supplies and trained staff to the region and lorries and generators were now arriving.
Still, however, victims were complaining that the aid effort was inadequate.
Defence Secretary Voltaire Gazmin said that armed forces have set up communications lines and C-130 transport planes are flying to Tacloban.
"The biggest challenge is to be able to reach out to all areas with food and water.
"There are a few areas in Leyte and Samar that have not been reached and we hope we will reach all these areas today," he said.
Troops are removing bodies with the help of the Departments of Health, Public Works and Highways, he said.
Water filtration systems are now operating in Tacloban and two other towns in Leyte province and helicopters are dropping relief supplies.
A US aircraft carrier, the USS George Washington, is moored off the coast.
The carrier and its strike group has brought 21 helicopters to the area, which can reach the most inaccessible parts of the disaster zone.
Britain is also sending an aircraft carrier, HMS Illustrious, with seven helicopters and facilities to produce fresh water, but the ship is not expected to reach the area until November 25.
