For the UN official winding up his emergency tour of duty in the Supertyphoon Yolanda-devastated regions, what is especially striking about the typhoon survivors is how profuse they are to thank everyone who came to help.

"I think the gratitude of the people impressed me because often, when we work in other countries, people either complain or they don't say anything. Here, the people were very grateful and wonderful, and made it an even more rewarding experience for us." Said Roberto Mignone, the Country Representative of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Costa Rica.

Mignone who was sent here on a three-month emergency mission, said it is "heartbreaking"to leave a country that he has fallen in love with.