1.
GV Marine helicopter loaded with supplies (4 shots)
0.13

2.
AERIAL V Partially flooded area (2 shots)
0.24

3.
Ditto Flooded area
0.30

4.
Ditto Partially submerged village cut off by floods
0.37

5.
AIR TO AIR Other helicopters
0.44

6.
TV PAN People wait for supplies]
0.50

7.
SV & CUs Supplies being unloaded (5 shots)
1.05

8.
AERIAL VIEW Helicopter lands at second village (2 shots)
1.09

9.
GV Human chain shifts supplies towards village (4 shots)
1.30



Initials BB/1545 TH/PW/BB/1600



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: For as long as the flooding in the Philippines continues, helicopters will be playing a vital role in saving thousands of stranded Filipinos who are faced with starvation.

Film from the United States Department of Defence shows helicopters flying on a mission to bring relief supplies to villages completely cut off by floodwater.

At the start of the weekend, as the disaster death toll passed 400, many foreign offers of aid were pouring in. But though relief shipments were being flown in from several countries by Philippine Airlines, a petrol shortage hampered distribution to areas worst affected by the floods.

SYNOPSIS: By the weekend, the death toll from the floods had climbed to over four-hundred. Reports from worst-affected areas told of flood victims reduced to eating rats and snakes. So far stranded villagers, the appearance of the Marine helicopters is close to miraculous. And with an outbreak of cholera claiming further lives in the wake of the flooding, the helicopters will by flying mercy missions to distribute medical supplies.

At the weekend, President Ferdinand Marcos was meeting public and civic officials from the islands to discuss coordination of efforts to distribute relief to the two-million people affected by the floods.