Numerous aid efforts are underway to help the Philippines after it was ravaged by Typhoon Haiyan, and mobile payments are playing a key role.

According to Quartz, a team from the non-profit Télécoms Sans Frontières was on the ground before the storm hit, carrying satellite phones and laptop-sized BGans, which enable voice calls and Internet connections via satellite. A TSF spokesman told Quartz that as aid organizations adjust to the new mobile-enabled developing world, mobile payments could take the place of some food aid shipments.

"Rather than driving trucks full of food into disaster hit areas, food, aid organizations and charities might bring (or send) vouchers for food instead," he said. "We need to think about emergency response the way that FedEx thinks about delivering packages — we need to take advantage of the infrastructure we're given."

The relief effort has also received help from companies in the card-not-present payments industry, according to CardNotPresent.com.

For example, Remitly, a mobile money transfer service that enables remittances from the U.S. to the Philippines, has contacted customers via email and offered to waive all fees for money transfers sent directly to the Philippine Red Cross through Nov. 22. The company has included a direct donation link in its app.

Also, the mGive Foundation website lists 17 client partners that are accepting donations. Donations can be made through Web links on the site or by SMS; the site also provides directions on how make mobile donations to each listed group. Charges will appear on the donor's wireless bill or be deducted from a prepaid balance.

Learn more about direct carrier billing.