There are so many dimensions to this tragic event, I hardly know where to start. Readers have been helpful and have provided some citations. Here are just a few interesting aspects

•  Philippines prepared for Typhoon Haiyan, but evacuation sites couldn’t withstand storm surges  
• Why the Philippines Was not Ready for Typhoon Haiyan.
• Why Arab Presidents are Pledging Millions to Philippines.
• Emergency Access Initiative – free access to Medical  Reference Resources  from NIH
• Natural disasters threaten Philippine growth –
  Every year, 20 typhoons hit the Philippines, a country also threatened by earthquakes and volcanos. These natural disasters have grave economic consequences
• Philippines Prepares for Future Disasters; No. 13
• Low Rate of Insurance Coverage in the Philippines
• Photos of the enormous destruction.
• Typhoon not entirely an “Act of God”
• Philippines is a victim of geography, poverty, and poor infrastructure