KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 15 — A logistics company is offering free shipping services to donors interested in sending aid to those affected by Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines, specifically to the hardest hit areas, Tacloban and Ormoc, Leyte.

Infinity Logistics & Transport will be partnering with four other organisations ― Westports Malaysia Sdn Bhd, Goldstar i/o Newstar, 2Go Group Inc. from the Philippines, and Crisis Relief Services & Training Bhd (CREST) Malaysia ― to deliver the relief supplies for free, all the way to the affected areas.

“The offer is right now activated to all interested companies and individuals who may be interested to donate and the space will be available on a first-come-first-served basis.

“For easy custom declaration for the relief items, homogenous items such as the three most immediate needs — mineral water, dry foods, or tents are encouraged.

“Therefore, all interested companies or individuals are encouraged to act immediately without hesitation as we target the first container to be shipped out by next week,” Infinity Corporate Communication Manager Joanne Teh said in a statement.

Infinity will be responsible to coordinate this project while offering 10 units of 20-footer containers and the land logistics free of charge to Port Klang.

Westports Malaysia will provide free lifting at the Port Klang terminal, Goldstar will provide free freight from Port Klang, Malaysia to Cebu, Philippines, and 2GO will be providing feedering services from Cebu, Philippines to the three affected areas namely Tacloban, Ormoc, and Leyte, in Philippines.

Crisis Relief Services & Training Bhd (CREST) Malaysia in collaboration with IDRN, Operation Blessings and local Filipino NGOs will coordinate the distribution of relief goods to the affected communities.

The team has also just activated a ground team to Tacloban with medication, soap and dehydrated food to bring emergency relief to the casualties in the devastating storm.

Any companies or individuals who are interested to donate may contact Teh at +6016-2152926 or e-mail her at corpcom@infinity.com.my for more information.

Quoting a Philippine minister, the BBC reported that the latest death toll was at 3,422. There have also been reports of enormous logistical issues in distributing aid, as well as looting, as survivors panicked over shortages of food and water. Eight people were crushed to death two days ago when looters raided a warehouse.

More than 8 million Filipinos in 43 provinces have been affected by the most powerful typhoon in the country’s history.

About 534,340 people have been displaced and another 359,570 are still seeking shelter at 1,099 evacuation centres.

Philippine Civil Aviation Authority-controlled airports are now operational but operations in the worst-hit area of Tacloban city are still limited.