A brighter tomorrow for Tom

Tom
Wednesday, August 5, 2020

“I am 60 years old and I have never seen anything like this cyclone,” shared Tom.

“We had to run across a field to get to a safer building, but the wind was so strong that I had to ask the smaller children to jump into a copra sack, which I carried and ran with so that I would not lose them,” Tom recalled of the frightening experience.

World Vision Vanuatu’s Tropical Cyclone Harold Response Manager, Vomboe Molly, explained, “This cyclone has adversely affected so many people. Personal belongings have been damaged or lost and houses have been destroyed. It’s an especially difficult time for vulnerable members of the community, including the elderly.”

Over 17,000 houses were damaged or destroyed by Tropical Cyclone Harold, leaving around 87,000 people without homes.

World Vision provided Tom with a shelter kit to help him repair his damaged home and a tarpaulin to provide temporary shelter from the elements.

Tom expressed his gratitude for the support, “Thank you for the help you have given to my grandchildren and my family to help us heal and start to recover.”

More than three months on from devastating Tropical Cyclone Harold, World Vision has reached 14,506 people, including 7,694 children, 676 elderly people, 364 people with disabilities and 367 female-headed households with essential relief items. World Vision has distributed 3,904 tarpaulins, 1,035 shelter toolkits, 359 solar lanterns, 2,846 blankets, 1,321 hygiene/dignity kits, 3,319 jerry cans, 566 mosquito nets, 410 water filters/buckets, 1,131 ending violence packages and 3,398 COVID-19/protection messages. We worked closely with partners, including the Sanma Provincial Emergency Operations Centre, who led the response. World Vision will continue to work with the government through the Vanuatu National Disaster Management Office and support communities to recover from Tropical Cyclone Harold and the impact of COVID-19.

World Vision's Tropical Cyclone Harold response was funded by the Australian Government through the Australian Humanitarian Partnership, UKAID through Start Fund, the Government of Canada through the Canadian Humanitarian Assistance Fund, and relief supplies donated by the Government of New Zealand and UNICEF.  Support was also provided through generous donations from the people of New Zealand and Australia.