Vanuatu one month on after Cyclone Pam
One month after Cyclone Pam devastated Vanuatu and left thousands homeless, families have begun the long process of rebuilding their lives.
The category 5 cyclone, which was the worst in Vanuatu’s history, flattened villages, damaged schools and destroyed crops, leaving many homeless and without access to fresh food or able to earn money.
Through close coordination with the National Disaster Management Office (NDMO) and Vanuatu Humanitarian Team (VHT), World Vision has assisted more than 10,000 people across Shefa, Tafea and Penama Provinces to access safe shelter, hygiene kits and kitchen kits.
World Vision has also been distributing items like rakes and shovels so families can re-establish their gardens providing access to nutritious food and also helping to improve their income through growing vegetables to sell at markets.
World Vision Cyclone Pam Response Manager, Judy Moore, said significant progress had been made to help families and communities decimated by the cyclone to recover.
World Vision has assisted more than 10,000 people across Shefa, Tafea and Penama Provinces to access safe shelter, hygiene kits and kitchen kits.
“In just one month World Vision has been able to reach some of the most remote islands that were seriously impacted by Cyclone Pam with essential household items and tools that have helped communities start to rebuild,” Ms. Moore said.
“The spirit and resilience of the people of Vanuatu as they try and rebuild has been remarkable.”
Ms. Moore said the remote nature of Vanuatu’s communities and the fact that communication between islands was impossible in the aftermath added to the challenge of the response.
“In the week after Cyclone Pam many islands in Vanuatu were without telecommunication lines so it was difficult to know the extent of damaging we were dealing with,” she said.
“It’s also challenging working in isolated communities, such as those World Vision works in, which are difficult to reach and deliver assistance to at the best of times, let alone after a cyclone.”
Despite the challenges there are signs that Vanuatu is slowly returning to normal with the first tourist cruise ship since Cyclone Pam docking in Port Vila last week.
“Though leaves are starting to sprout on trees and tourists are returning it’s important to remember that this is a long term recovery that will take up to a year, not just a few months, to help Vanuatu get back on it’s feet," Ms. Moore said, “World Vision has been in Vanuatu for over 30 years and will be working to make sure the people of Vanuatu get the long-term support they need.”
For further information/interviews contact:
Chloe Morrison, Emergency Communications Officer