Vanuatu: Thank you. For those who donated and infomed me.updated july

Would like to thank all those who donated to Oxfam, red cross, UNICEF, Vanuatu Funds etc. For the Vanuatu cyclone relief .... Thanks for those who donated small amounts to 120.000 .. Thank you for letting me know,

Thank you to those who donated money from a gig to the relief.

Thanks to big business and to Murdock, Trump and people in Australia, America, UK, France, Germany, Sweden, China , Japan for giving.. Thanks to the film makers, The entertainment community and everyone who have give up their skills, time, money to assist in Vanuatu and the islands,

You have made me so proud that my stories and words gotten to your hearts and you have shown such generosity.

Thank you for all your assistance.. From nothing to establishing assistance.
Thank you all for contributing.
Hugs.

Up Date 20th October 2015

Although Vanuatu was also hit recently by earth quake on 20th 2015 USGS indicates to news that a 7.1 magnitude Vanuatu earthquake today started today just after 2:52 pm PST. The quake was deep. Officials tell news that it started 79 miles below sea level. Officials report that the quake was 22 miles outside of Port Olry and 48 miles from Luganville. It was also about 500 miles from New Caledonia.

I would like to thank you personally for assisting... wether by skills, time, donations to charities.. Or sending material to the region..

Thank you for your thoughts and deeds..

Total money was raised and given to charities to this date is over 1.95 million.... US .. Thank you

Thank you for your thoughts and words and your support. Although this is going to take over 12 months at least to get most on their feet.. This is a wonderful start... Thanks you

Aid workers in the capital of Port Vila described homes and shops flattened, swaths of trees ploughed over and residents seeking shelter in schools and churches -- or with neighbours.

You’ve heard that Cyclone Pam has had a devastating effect on Vanuatu, allow me try to put the intensity of this storm into perspective.

Firstly, this cyclone was a category 5.

Cyclone Tracy which destroyed Darwin, Australia in 1974 was a category 3 cyclone.

The sustained wind speeds of cyclone Pam were over 250 kilometres per hour (kph) with gusts over 320 kph. Winds at this speed wouldn’t just blow you off your feet – they are strong enough to lift you vertically at over 120 mph! It’s amazing that anyone survived this.

Imagine that you are sheltering from this storm in your own house, your safety place, your home, as you are struck with sand, rocks, dust, branches and debris flying at those speeds, in wet also in pitch black, in the middle of the night. Your home is made of Brick Veneer or steel and plaster boards or even double brick.

The locals said the worst thing was the sound. Not only was it as deafening as a turbo jet engine but the pressure changes and “warbles” were unbearable, yet went on for hours and hours.

Now imagine that you aren’t sheltering in your house but in a thatch hut in the jungle.

When the storm surge comes rushing in you have to hold your precious children over your head so they didn’t drown.

After it had passed and the morning light broke you would see that not only has your house and all your possessions literally been blown away but the rest of the village has crumbles and disappeared.

Children have no schools to go to.

Fruit trees and the crops are gone. Your beautiful “Avatar” forest no longer has leaves. Many of the massive trees are uprooted and coconut palms snapped off half way up.

Despite all this, the Vanuatu people are unbelievably resilient and still wearing their famous Vanuatu Smiles.

They have started to clean up, clear the roads of debris and rebuild but they need our help.

After such a disaster it is paramount to act quickly to assess the damage to ensure that help gets to those that need it most.

From time to time trucks full of volunteers arrive to collect piles of wood. Bulldozers drive up and down , turning over the earth, shoring up the road and removing huge piles of broken furniture from the seafront as part of the clean-up effort.

Staff and local communities have been working around the clock to get small hotels ready for guests and they are bouncing back faster than larger resorts.

The great news is that the aid is getting delivered and the locals are rebuilding, but, they still need all the help you can spare so please donate and help these wonderful people get back on their feet!

Four months have passed since Tropical Cyclone Pam tore through Vanuatu.

Equipping local residents with the knowledge they need to keep themselves safe and well is vital to building community resilience in the face of future disasters.

An estimated 68% of the rainwater harvesting catchment structures were destroyed in Vanuatu and 70% of the wells have been contaminated following cyclone Pam, with piped water systems also suffering extensive damage. For this coastal community on Emae Island, its close proximity to the seafront meant it was particularly exposed to the fierce wind and rains which battered the island during the cyclone.

Spring wells are a critical water source for local people in Vanuatu but the effects of cyclone Pam have caused many to deteriorate rapidly, meaning they can now only be used for bathing and washing.

When Tropical Cyclone Pam slammed into Port Vila, the capital of Vanuatu, on Friday 13 March, the lives of thousands of people were shattered overnight. The government currently estimates that about 130,000 people from a total population of 277,061 have been affected.

Today the residents of the village have gathered in the church for a health and hygiene promotion session. Working with the village health committee, Red Cross volunteer Newman Netef (37) is sharing information on how to store safe water and the importance of hand washing, to safeguard against the spread of disease.

Up dated 11/4/15

Through out the world which I shared my notices and who informed me what they donated is just over 1.75 million which were donated through charities, Oxfam, Rotary, Red cross, and a few churches... and there are 5 containers of building materials, the two containers of Educational books which were donated by Tafe and Libraries to Rotary and 2 containers of cloths. Books will be delivered when buildings are refitted out.. Thank you so much..

Half of the total population, was impacted by Cyclone Pam. With the destruction of 15,000 structures, 75,000 residents are in need of shelter. Roughly 100,000 do not have access to safe drinking water and some have gone over two weeks without it. Vanuatu is highly dependent on locally sourced food and with 96% of the crops in ruins, some villages are expected to run out of food within a week.

Up date June 2015

Through out the world which I shared my notices and who informed me what they donated is just over 1.95 million which were donated through charities, Oxfam, Rotary, Red cross, and a few churches.

I found that who I am is unimportant. What I do is more important. Inspire creative passions which you were born to achieve and be, is!

In the days following the cyclone, images coming out of Vanuatu showed houses and food crops completely destroyed, however the country's tourism body wants to change the tone of the pictures coming out of Vanuatu, and is turning to social media to achieve their goal.

Using the hashtag #VanuatuStillSmiles, the Vanuatu Tourism Office hopes to inject positive imagery into international news and social media.

The photos have not only helped to spread the word of Vanuatu's resilience, they have also generated interest from people who are considering Vanuatu as a holiday destination.

Thanks to all my friends and associates. Too many to place down but who have great big hearts... Thank you for your support and promises for the next 6 -12 months of work and donations.

Thank you for letting me know that my messages got through and that donations were made because of those messages. I am truly grateful for your generosity and Items which are on the way.. Although it will be a long process over the next 12 months. Thank you to those who have given without a second thought and still donating. From money to equipment and materials. Keep up such wonderful work.. There is so much more but your responses are so welcomed for the communities in 82 islands which are affected by that cyclone.. You proven to me that your hearts are there when it counts. Thank you, for the Entertainment Arena.. For those who are giving up on gig of their money for Vanuatu. Bless you. Thank you for donating through Rotary, Oxfam, united nations, Red Cross, Doctors without boarders, Vanuatu Relief Agencies and churches.

Thank you. Thank you Thank you Thank you...

If you wish to send items directly to those affected. These families will pass it on through the communities of Vanuatu

Heidi Bann.. works for Le Lagoon PO Box 86 Port Vila Vanuatu

Heidi has 5 children and has lost two of her family.

McKenzie Works for PO Box 1297 Port Vila Vanuatu

As there is no direct mail address to individuals in Vanuatu these people work and they are able to use their work addresses to receive mail etc..

Thank you again for such a response.

Schools are slowly being rebuilt

Resorts are rebuilt.
Around 70 per cent of tour companies and more than half of hotels shut since Pam have now reopened.
Tourism makes up about 40 per cent of Vanuatu's economy and it directly employs more than 6,000 people.

Water is in short supply

People keep smiling although they are hurting.

Resorts are in show case conditions once again.
Most people in Vanuatu would depend on tourism and that is why it is very important for tourism to come back, especially when agriculture has also been damaged during the cyclone and as we know agriculture will take quite a few years to come back but tourism we can turn around in the next three months or so.

Outer villages are still slowly recovering.

ex pats homes are being repaired.

In consultation with local authorities Cruises are keen to resume calls to Vila as soon as possible, with cruise ship visits vital to the Vanuatu economy. We will let our guests and travel agents know when we are in a position to resume calls to Vila. We will also be in touch with guests and travel agents if there are any changes to cruise itineraries departing in the coming weeks.

Vanuatu, one of the world's poorest nations, is a sprawling cluster of more than 80 islands and 260,000 people, 2,000 km (1,250 miles) northeast of the Australian city of Brisbane.
Perched on the geologically active "Ring of Fire", it suffers from frequent earthquakes and tsunamis and has several active volcanoes, in addition to threats from storms and rising sea levels.

My name is Sonia and although I am not a journalist or well known, I have written more than 500 words about many things as I know these situations are more worthy than a small statement or a sideline in blogs or papers.

I write and share to make aware of the real things in life. Vanuatu is such a cause.

For the more information given the more understanding of what is going on.. I over explain things because I understand that there are great needs.

There are many families in Vanuatu who are in need. Away from the resorts and popular spots.

I have not the money resources to assist although I can share and give people knowledge and allow you to have choices to choose..

I given address of family which I know to be real and who can assist their families which live on most islands.

There are many in need..

Such disasters came with a price.

I know and with Media and Social Media which is now available these days I can request and share.

Years ago this would not be known.

I know as I was also in need.. and no one was there.. at least I can give a voice to those who cannot..

Many of people have ridiculed my methods. That is ok.. As everyone has their own opinions.

No, I gain nothing for informing you of this..