Just days before Typhoon Haiyan crashed into the Philippines, the United States was in negotiations with the Filipino Government to increase its troop presence in the country. On November 8th, the day Haiyan made landfall, those negotiations became a non-issue. One of the worst recorded storms in world history had left over 5,000 people dead, over 1,600 missing, over 23,000 injured and 4 million people displaced. In a country which has seen its share of deadly typhoons even these numbers were staggering. In countries like the Philippines poverty, corruption, poor governing and climate change fueled by the excesses of Western consumption combine to create a disastrous consequence for people.

Uprising host Sonali Kolhatkar spoke with Kuusela Hilo, Volunteer Coordinator for Task Force Haiyan and Country Coordinator for the US Chapter of International League of People’s Struggle, about the politics of relief in the Philippines.

Watch a video of the interview here:

Bipasha Shom recorded this interview.