Those who survived the super typhoon Haiyan, or Yolanda, in the Philippines have become desperate and worried about their situation and many have turned to looting as they await aid.
One problem with the looting is that many businesses in the Philippines’ city of Tacloban who might have helped bring in aid have closed their doors and refused to offer help over fears of their stuff being stolen if they leave, USA Today reports.
The staff at Globe Telecom in Ormoc, were willing to send relief goods to Tacloban, but are worried their truck would be targeted by armed looters before it could help anyone.
However, not everyone feels that the looters should be demonized for their actions. “They are panicking and scared,” Edward Bongcaras, a city treasury employee, said. “They think it’s an insurance policy to help their families.”
He added, “I can understand the looters. I took canned goods from a warehouse, it’s not good but survival.”
One resident, Mary Jane Garcia begged for help at the airport as many are worried that though they survived the typhoon, they might not last before help reaches them, The Washington Post notes. “We survive the typhoon, but this will kill us.”
Armed forces have been deployed in the affected cities and sporadic gunfire can be heard throughout the day and well into the night. Despite increased security forces, looters are doing their best to get at relief supplies, and not always because they are desperate for supplies. One incident just outside the city left eight looters dead.
A mob tore into a building containing rice for relief efforts and a stack of rice bags collapsed killing some in the mob and the survivors took as much as they could, often to try and turn a profit by selling the rice for $45 a bag.
Rex Estoperez, a spokesperson for the National Food Authority, said in a telephone interview, “We’re asking the people who took the rice to share it with the victims instead of selling it and doing business.”