Typhoon Haiyan: US missionary delivers aid

The devastation caused by Typhoon Haiyan has left thousands dead and hundreds of thousands of others displaced.

A huge international relief effort has begun, but local people are also trying to reach outlying towns and villages and give what help they can.

One of these is Kevin Vacca.

Originally from Austin, Texas, Kevin has lived and worked in the Philippines for 14 years as a missionary.

Here he describes his experience of the aftermath of Typhoon Haiyan.

"I live in Catmon in Cebu.

Roads are blocked in the north Cebu town of Daanbantayan

We were hit by the hurricane and have water but no electricity or telephone.

My wife and I were the first to arrive at the tip of Northern Cebu on Saturday with a vehicle.

We drove from Catmon to Maya, and I cleared the road along the way with another man because no-one was clearing it - in fact the officials said it couldn't be done.

It took us nine hours to clear a road that normally takes two hours to drive.

'Cash is king'

We delivered rice and water to the area while we were there, but we ran out of cash to purchase more food.

No-one is interested in taking cheques or credit cards.

Cash is king and we have had to drive two hours south of where we live to find an ATM machine that works to get more money.

We are at the supermarket and are buying more food to take there - large bags of rice and water.

The devastation up there is very bad with people going out on the road begging for food and water.

'Mob situation'

Damage wrought by Typhoon Haiyan in the northern Cebu town of Borbon

I'm concerned it's going to be dangerous to go there at night.

There are about 100,000 people in the Maya area.

Around 40 to 50% of the buildings are destroyed and certainly all the buildings are damaged.

People are not receiving food or water and beggars are going out on the road to stop cars coming from the city with people taking food and water to relatives in the area.

I'm worried it may become a mob situation - we need the military to get there as soon as possible."