Vanuatu: Vanuatu 2015 disarster 13/03/2015

A category five tropical cyclone has battered the 83 Islands of Vanuatu, packing winds of up to 250 kilometres per hour and triggering flooding in parts of the country.

Vanuatu's northern islands were the first to feel the destructive force of Pam, the strongest storm to hit the nation of 270,000 people in nearly 30 years.

"We've seen villages that have just literally been blown away."

With these words, Chloe Morrison, World Vision's Vanuatu emergency response officer who sheltered in a colleague's cement house in Port Vila on Friday night, described the impact of the category five Cyclone Pam after it changed direction and made a direct hit on the archipelago.

International Development Secretary Justine Greening said: "It is already clear that there has been widespread devastation. Many families have lost their homes and power supplies, roads and other infrastructure have been left badly damaged.

Overnight Cyclone Pam charted a southward path of destruction, passing through several of the country's 83 islands, including the capital, Port Vila, on the island of Efate. It remained a category five cyclone, and was clearing the southern fringe of the archipelago at midday on Saturday.

By Saturday morning, early reports of Cyclone Pam's devastation began trickling in as residents emerged from shelters to survey the scene and begin the emergency response operation.

The Red Cross said it would be prioritising securing food and clean water for tens of thousands of people.

The damage in Port Vila, where even some of the cement-reinforced buildings had roofs blown off, is an early indication of the expected catastrophe in the less-developed islands, where locals predominantly live in traditional thatched housing.

These pictures tell the story of the Storm in March 2015 which has hit Vanuatu, the outer islands have not been recorded as of yet. These are pictures surrounding Port Villa.

The pictures do carry over a thousand words which can speak in many languages...

The next morning, the tropical island paradise was "unrecognisable" from the day before. "Roads are blocked. Debris is everywhere. Sheet metal is bent like tin foil … You can't feel sorry for yourself because it is the same everywhere," he said.

Red Cross' Vanuatu disaster management coordinator Augustine Garae spent the sleepless night in Port Villa, where he said the destruction was "inexplicable".

"Ninety per cent of houses are destroyed," he said. "All of the trees have fallen down. All of the power lines are down."

At Port Villa's Central Hospital, the surgical, medical and children's wards had been damaged and sustained flooding, Mr Garae said.

The reports of widespread destruction came as aid agencies launched emergency appeals to help cyclone victims.

Port Vila is the capital and largest city of Vanuatu. Its population in the last census was 44,040, an increase of 50% on the previous census result. In 2009, the population of Port Vila formed 18.8% of the country's population.

These pictures have thousand or words within them. People are now trying to recover as it is not only the business which are affected...it is the population. Please take time to look as just a small amount of pictures which I have placed here... I also make a few observations and comments. I would like you to consider in giving .. your time,, your talents to ensure that we care for our Pacific neighbours.

Not only homes and villages were devastated.. The people need support and to re establish their lives, Where once you visited the islands for their wonder, beauty and peacefulness for your holidays, weddings and special occasions.. Assisting doesn't cost you much of your time, although assisting these people means more than life. They are starting from nothing again and we can accomplish great things.. when we work together.

"A disaster of this magnitude has not been experienced by Vanuatu in recent history - particularly in terms of the reach of the potential damage and the ferocity of the storm," said Sune Gudnitz, head of the agency's Pacific office.

Building are smashed and can be repaired.. Lives need to be cared for and starting again is no option for the people of Vanuatu. Please assist them as everything counts.

A priority was to make sure residents had shelter and enough food and drinking water.

Heavy rain has threatened the health of patients at Vanuatu’s tertiary referral hospital, Vila Central Hospital (VCH), and the impending cyclone plotting its way southwards towards Shefa Province is bringing more worries for patients and staff.

Despite the new complex having been opened in the hospital compound in Port Vila, poor drainage and heavy run-off during substantial downpours led to flooding into the hospital wards with patients having to climb up onto their beds to stay dry.

Power remains out across the tiny Pacific archipelago and people on many of the outer islands have no access to running water or outside communications.

Vanuatu's President Baldwin Lonsdale has called for international help after Cyclone Pam ripped through the Pacific archipelago.

Describing it as a "calamity", he said he spoke with a "heavy heart".

Aid agencies say the cyclone, which veered off its expected course on Saturday and struck populated areas, has caused "complete devastation".

Save the Children says eight people are confirmed dead but it is feared dozens more may have been killed.

Chloe Morrison, an emergency communications officer with World Vision who is in Port Vila, said on Saturday that streets were littered with roofing, uprooted trees and toppled power lines.

There were reports of entire villages in remote areas being destroyed, she said.

"The damage is quite extensive in Port Vila but there are so many more vulnerable islands. I can't even imagine what it's like in those vulnerable communities.''

The number of dead could rise further as reports come in from outlying areas cut off by communications failures. Vanuatu has a population of about 267,000 people spread over 83 islands, with about 47,000 people living in Port Vila.

The pictures tell more than what a person can write... and these needed to be seen as they are felt all over the islands... and Vanuatu...

Local homes and leaf huts would have been picked up like confetti. Through out the storms fury.

Picking up the pieces and moving forward is that not what we humans do?

Authorities in Vanuatu advised thousands of residents to shelter in evacuation centres ahead of the storm. People were prepared for a Storm, although not for this devastation

This is what was and can be again. With the assistance of all those who were there in Vanuatu over the years. Books, Clothing, Are in constant need. Medical is also required. Can you allow your skills to be there, to rebuild the communities on the islands... One Week of your skills is worth more to rebuild communities.

From the beauty of the sunny day to the devastation which has taken place in Port Villa.

'Houses are destroyed, trees are down and roads are blocked which has left residents wandering the streets searching for help,'

Yes there is charities and groups to Assist them. Then there is also you the individual who can also partake in the rebuild. From listening and being there, to music, to art, to rebuild.. to assisting in fixing up a small hut to the building of a home.. to supplying tools and medical... to just allowing the recovery of that person matter...

A single person, can make the difference between life and death.. hope against loss.

Your skills are required. Your compassion and caring is also needed.. You can inspire great things for those who have lost everything. Empower them, to go forward..

These are the images of what was of Vanuatu before the cyclone in 2015, Please assist to re build the communities of Vanuatu islands, so that the people can live on and have empowerment to create and inspire their families to move forward after such devastation.

The staff helped prepare communities on the islands for the cyclone by positioning water, food, blankets, tarpaulins, and shelter, hygiene and kitchen kits in key places, it said, as well as advising on disaster preparedness. What happened was not totally expected. Mud slides, complete flattening of homes, even those homes which were made of Cement. Waves still overpowering the islands.

Seeds for vegetables are needed to establish a food source again.

I care and love Vanuatu... For the people who live there, the culture which is there in the smaller islands as well as in Port Vila. I am asking you to donate.. books, cloths, shoes, glasses, food, what every you are able to spare. They are part of our Pacific Family..

Use your skills if you have nothing else.... Let people know that you care.. Listen to a single person who has been hit with this... even that small gesture gives assistance to those in need...

You can Contact me or Charities.. Is it not time to care for our planet and families who are affected by such devastation?

What is now required is containers of roofing sheeting and metal frames for buildings.. Containers of Cloths for the people.. To re build over the next 6 -8 months.. These things would be given.. not sold to the communities.. and workers to assist in building with those things.

Containers of bunks and Blankets to place in those buildings which will be erected.

If you have a trade, Donate your skills for two weeks.. not much out of your lifetime, although it means a lot to those affected by this destruction.

Containers to rebuild the Vanuatu Islands

From Food , Clothing, Roofing, Frames

Blankets, Tents.

I know that people are hurting,

I think that the long haul needs the containers to which people can re build Vanuatu over the next 6 to 12 months.

These people have lost everything.

Give them empowerment and inspire them to move forward.

Just to get their footings again.

Containers of rice and beans, to share around the islands to their communities.

Water tanks to catch fresh water.

Clean up crew to clear the way for buildings to be erected.

Giving Children shirts and shorts with a few toys as well and Books to start up the empowerment of their families. Computers for each community so that a connection to the outside world is established.