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tayphoon haiyan

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A memorial walk took place in the Philippines on the anniversary of Typhoon Haiyan which ravaged central parts of the country a year ago.

Thousands of people marched through the city of Tacloban as sirens sounded and bells rang at the exact time the storm hit.

There were also anti-government protests at what some see as the slow pace of rebuilding.

President Benigno Aquino has denied moving too slowly. More than 7,000 people were killed in the disaster.

Typhoon Haiyan, known as Yolanda in the Philippines, hit on November 8 2013, sending huge storm swells into inland areas and destroying wide swathes of central Philippines.

More than four million people were displaced, many of whom are still living in temporary shelters.

Ceremonies were held on November 8 at mass graves in Tacloban where several thousand victims of the storm are buried.

Thousands marched by candlelight through the city at dawn, passing through areas devastated by the typhoon.

Gathering at the graves, mourners wrote names of loved ones on white crosses planted symbolically to represent unidentified victims.

More than four million people were displaced after typhoon Haiyan hit Tacloban in November 2013

More than four million people were displaced after typhoon Haiyan hit Tacloban in November 2013

“It’s important that we make it meaningful, so for the next generation’s people will remember this,” city mayor Alfred Romualdez said, quoted by Reuters news agency.

Hundreds also staged protests in the city and in the capital Manila at what they regard as a lack of progress in reconstruction.

The protesters burned an effigy of the president in the middle of Tacloban.

President Benigno Aquino has been accused of showing a lack of urgency in the reconstruction, with plans to find safe land away from the coast and build new homes falling behind schedule.

Benigno Aquino says the plan will take time.

“I would hope we can move even faster and I will push everybody to move even faster, but the sad reality is the scope of work you need to do can really not be done overnight,” said the president.

The president has decided not to come here to mark the anniversary, although he visited the typhoon-hit Eastern Samar province on November 7.

Tacloban is a stronghold of Benigno Aquino’s political enemies – it is the birthplace of former First Lady, Imelda Marcos.

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Kim Kardashian came under fire this week after deciding to aid victims of the devastating Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines by selling off a boatload of items from her closet, a la Victoria Beckham.

Her initiative has sparked a firestorm of social media outrage after it was pointed out that only 10% of the proceeds were going to charity.

Kim Kardashian’s charitable eBay auction launched on Thursday with a number of gently used designer goods, including Christian Louboutin diamond-embellished platform pumps and a Givenchy white dress that she wore while pregnant with daughter North.

“Hi guys, this is a very special auction because a portion of the proceeds of my eBay auction are going to International Medical Corps, a nonprofit organization that provides critical health services on remote islands where families are struggling to access medical care and basic resources like food, clean drinking water and vital medications,” Kim Kardashian wrote on her website.

“The proceeds will go directly to the communities they’re serving in the Philippines and will help typhoon survivors get access to medical care and ultimately save lives. My prayers and thoughts are with those affected by the typhoon.”

Kim Kardashian came under fire after deciding to aid victims of the devastating Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines by selling off a boatload of items from her closet

Kim Kardashian came under fire after deciding to aid victims of the devastating Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines by selling off a boatload of items from her closet

Reaction to Kim Kardashian’s benevolent effort was swift and merciless.

“Kim #Kardashian is on eBay selling some of her clothes for charity. 10% goes to the charity. Hope that doesn’t break her! #generosity #vile,” tweeted one.

“What on earth does she need the money for?” asked another.

Kim Kardashian “consistently” auctions off her couture, explains her spokesperson, and always gives 10% of the money away (usually to her church).

It’s “something she learned from her father,” and she does it year-round, “not just when there’s a tragedy,” adds the rep.

For this particular auction, Kim Kardashian decided to change the beneficiary in order to help the Philippines, but she kept the percentage at the usual number.

Given how high end the items are (other designers represented include Chanel, Gucci, Lanvin and Balenciaga), a good chunk of change should be raised, even at the 10% rate.