Typhoon Haiyan: UN launches $301m Philippines aid appeal

The UN has launched an appeal for $301m (£190m) to help relief efforts in typhoon-hit areas of the Philippines.

Valerie Amos, the UN's Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief, told the BBC that people in the affected regions were "absolutely desperate".

"We've just launched an action plan focusing on the areas of food, health, sanitation, shelter, debris removal and also protection of the most vulnerable," Ms Amos explained.

"We're asking for $301m," she said.