“The Philippine government is strong enough to ensure long-term reconstruction in the wake of devastating Typhoon Haiyan is effective and avoid the aid problems seen after the Haiti earthquake three years ago, the [USAID administrator] said on Tuesday,” the Thomson Reuters Foundation reports. “One thousand U.S. marines were arriving on Tuesday to help clear rubble and create access for aid workers at the heart of the disaster zone, Rajiv Shah said” in an interview with the news agency. “The international community has already provided $182 million in aid for the Philippines, Shah said, adding that the United States has committed $37 million,” Reuters writes. “Reconstruction plans in the Philippines are already in focus, with the head of U.N. disaster relief Valerie Amos stressing on Tuesday the need for long-term planning to ensure farmers and fishermen can resume their livelihoods,” the news agency adds (Scrutton, 11/19). “The typhoon that hit the Philippines has caused crop losses worth $110 million and inflicted damage to the agriculture sector of more than twice that figure, preliminary estimates from the [U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization] showed on Tuesday,” Reuters notes (11/19).