Five lessons learnt…Six months on from Cyclone Pam

As Cyclone Pam wrought devastation over the archipelago of Vanuatu six months ago, I and the rest of my World Vision colleagues became humanitarian disaster responders overnight. Although perhaps living and working in one of the most vulnerable countries in the world to disasters means we were always disaster responders in waiting!

The past six months have been busy as we have partnered with government departments, other aid agencies and communities to support 55,000 people in Vanuatu with their recovery. But from the ground zero of devastation there have been many seeds of hope that have already started to sprout.

And as I reflect on the changes and challenges of the past six months, here are five things I’ve learnt along the way:

1) The long road to recovery…is actually more like a river to recovery

They say it’s a long road to recovery, but I think a river to recovery is a far more appropriate metaphor.

The response began been like a slew of rapids; fast moving and powerful. And an emergency response requires just that, fast, urgent, emergency responses to meet immediate and life-saving needs.

Over the past six months, the response pace has ebbed and flowed, albeit with a few ripples of calm.

But no matter what pace a river flows at, no matter how murky the water may seem at times, a river flows in one direction and during the Pam response the people of Vanuatu, aid agencies and Government departments have been moving in a co-ordinated manner in the one direction to bring about recovery in the most efficient and effective way possible.

2) Recovery means more than tarpaulins and toothbrushes

Sure, in the immediate aftermath of a disaster people need supplies like tarpaulins, but recovery is much more than simply distributing basic items.

Recovery is working with communities to improve building practices so homes and buildings are stronger when the next disaster strikes. It’s partnering with health workers to promote good nutrition in the wake of a disaster and ensure children and pregnant mothers have access to the nutritious food they need. It’s supporting small-scale farmers to improve planting practices that make crops more resilient to disasters.

And it’s not something that stops.  Recovery and preparing for the next disaster is ongoing.

3) The impact of disasters lasts much longer than the 3 day media interest

Though pictures of decimated villages and leafless trees disappear of front pages within a week of a huge disaster, the impact remains long after headlines fade from the front pages. In fact, even now the regrown banyan tress and patched buildings belie the true impact of Cyclone Pam. Although much immediate recovery has been done, the impact of Pam runs deeper than the roots of gigantic banyan trees.

For instance, much of Vanuatu’s population relies on subsistence farming for food and income. Up to 70-80 per cent of crops were wiped out by the ferocious winds and rain of Pam, leaving families without access to food and income at a time when they need cash to repair/replace what has been lost. While some of these crops have started to grow, and markets are a sea of colour once more, many cash crops like coffee will take up to three years to recover.

4) Led by the local community, supported by the international community

The response to Cyclone Pam involved, what in development speak is called “rapid self-recovery”, which in simple terms means the people of Vanuatu got stuff done quickly without waiting for assistance. In the days after Cyclone Pam, communities began rebuilding and regrowing their gardens, planting left over seeds or cuttings that survived, tacking back together whatever building materials they could find. Though the mass destruction Cyclone Pam wrought meant that many communities needed a lot of assistance the response to Cyclone Pam was very much led by the people of Vanuatu.

5) Your donation makes a real difference!

Disasters can seem overwhelming and it can seem like there is little difference you can make. When recovery costs are put at millions of dollars it seems impossible to see how a donation of $20 can make a difference. I assure you, it does. Over the past six months I have seen the difference your generous donation has made, with the support of World Vision supporters and government donors we have assisted more than 55,000 people with their recovery.

Your support has meant World Vision has assisted more than 80 kindergartens and primary schools with school supplies, and we’ve supported the Government of Vanuatu and World Food Programme distribute food to more than 47,000 people. Because of your support we can continue to work with local communities to help repair damaged infrastructure, to train local health professionals on the importance of nutrition and the risks to women and children in a disaster.

Chloe Morrison, an Australian, has lived in Vanuatu since April 2014.  A Grants/Communication Officer for World Vision, she was in Port Vila during Cyclone Pam and has been writing about the impact, clean up and rebuilding process.