An aid worker from Medway has flown out to the Philippines to help those affected by the devastating typhoon.

Laura Purves, who works for The Catholic Agency for Overseas Development (CAFOD), is helping to co-ordinate the charity’s emergency response in the capital Manila.

Typhoon Haiyan swept across the country last Friday with winds of up to 146mph, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake. More than 11 million people have been affected by the disaster, with around four million people displaced from their homes.

CAFOD is working with its local partners in the Philippines trying to reach those left without shelter, food or clean water.

Laura, 26, who has worked for CAFOD as an emergency support officer for two years, is helping to get aid to those most in need.

The former pupil of King’s school in Rochester, said: “The situation is horrific. Coordination is the key to making sure that life-saving humanitarian aid reaches those in greatest need.

"The logistical efforts of CAFOD’s local church partners and members of the Caritas network [the social action arm of the Catholic church] to get roads and airports open has allowed for more aid to get through.”

Laura has already helped coordinate aid to help victims of the droughts in East Africa and the Mozambique flood disaster but this is the first time she has worked in the Philippines.

She added: “Already 6,500 shelter kits with tents and tarpaulins have arrived in Cebu port to be transported to Leyte island, this is the first batch of Caritas shelter kits, and over 30,000 more are due to arrive over the coming days.

“But there are huge challenges and teams are working hard to establish clean water and sanitation programmes, as there is a fear that waterborne diseases will spread amongst people living closely together in evacuation centres or in makeshift dwellings.”

Eileen Hayes, CAFOD’s manager for the Kent area said: “We have been overwhelmed by the generosity and compassion of our supporters since we launched our CAFOD Philippines Typhoon Haiyan Appeal, and the efforts of the schools and parishes in Kent are another wonderful example of that.

"CAFOD will continue to do all it can to ease the plight of those affected.”

The Disasters Emergency Committee’s (DEC) appeal has now received donations of £39 million.

DEC chief executive Saleh Saeed said the organisation had been left “completely overwhelmed” by the compassion of the British public.