DCO
VANUATU'S FIRST DISASTER RISK REDUCTION CAMP
VANUATU'S FIRST DISASTER RISK REDUCTION CAMP
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ACCESS TO WATER IN AKHAMB COMMUNITY, MALEKULA: ...
ACCESS TO WATER IN AKHAMB COMMUNITY, MALEKULA: WORK IN PROGRESS
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VANUATU RED CROSS DENGUE FEVER SMS MESSAGE ...
VANUATU RED CROSS DENGUE FEVER SMS MESSAGE OUTBREAK
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DRR IN 10 COMMUNITY IN SANTO
DRR IN 10 COMMUNITY IN SANTO
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VACANCY NOTICE
VACANCY NOTICE

South Pacific

Helping Communities Recover

Helping Communities Recover

On March 13th, 2015, approximately 66,000 people across Vanuatu, were left homeless when Cyclone Pam, a category 5 tropical storm, tore through the country.

When the cyclone struck, Luis Lomai was in her family home in Lamanian village in West Tanna, together with her husband, seven children and two grandchildren. They were soon forced to move elsewhere after the walls and roof of the house collapsed around them. Together the family dodged flying debris as they sought refuge in neighboring homes. They were forced to continue their flight three times after the winds tore apart each place where they sheltered.

Miraculously the family escaped the cyclone unscathed, but Luis and her family were left feeling defeated after seeing the damage the cyclone had caused to their home and garden.

44,000 people reached since Cyclone Pam

44,000 people reached since Cyclone Pam

One year ago Cyclone Pam tore through the South Pacific affecting 200,000 people and leaving a trail of devastation in its wake. Vanuatu bore the brunt of the disaster but Tuvalu, Kiribati, the Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea were also badly affected. In the last twelve months, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) working with National Red Cross Societies in the region, has reached more than 44,000 people across all five affected countries with direct humanitarian assistance.

Latest Update: Tropical Cyclone Ula

LATEST UPDATE: TROPICAL CYCLONE ULA

At 8:00pm local time, Severe Tropical Cyclone Ula (941 hPa) Category 4 was located at 20.8 degrees South 170.5 degrees East, about 95 KM southeast of Aneityum and 190 KM southeast of Tanna. Severe Tropical Cyclone Ula has moved in a southwest direction at 14 KM/HR in the past 3 hours.

Winds close to the center are estimated at 175 km/hr and continue to intensify. Expected position of the system in the next 6 hours will be near 22.6 degrees South 170.0 degrees East.

Damaging Strong to Gale force winds of 65 to 75 km/hr will continue to affect Anietyum, Futuna and south of Tanna tonight and slowlt decreasing as Tropical Cyclone Ula slowly moves southwards.

Heavy rain and possible flooding in low lying areas and areas close to the river banks including coastal flooding are expected. Very rough to phenomenal seas with heavy swells are also expected.

If they haven't already, Vanuatu Red Cross is urging people in TAFEA Province to move to safe shelter immediately, ensuring they take with them an emergency kit/supplies and that any elderly or disabled neighbours and/or family are accounted for. They should also listen for updated via radio broadcasts where possible.

Vanuatu Red Cross staff and volunteers are on standby with relief supplies in place should they be required.

Track Cyclone Ula's progress at Vanuatu Meteorology and Geo-hazards Department

(Updated 9pm, January 10th)

Cyclone Ula: Latest Update

At 5:00pm local time, Severe Tropical Cyclone Ula (941 hPa) Category 4 was located at 20.4 degrees South 170.7 degrees East, about 95km east southeast of Aneityum and 180 KM east southeast of Tanna. Severe Tropical Cyclone Ula has moved in a southwest direction at 13 KM/HR in the past 3 hours. Winds close to the center are estimated at 165 km/hr and continue to intensify. Expected position of the system in the next 6 hours will be near 21.4 degrees South 170.2 degrees East. Damaging Gale force winds of 65 to 75 km/hr will continue to affect TAFEA province today.

Forecast Positions
Date and Time Position Intensity
+06 hours (11pm, 10 Jan)20.8S, 170.4E90 KTS (165 KM/HR)
+12 hours (5am, 11 Jan) 21.4S, 170.2E90 KTS (165 KM/HR)
+18 hours (11am, 11 Jan)22.0S, 170.1E90 KTS (165 KM/HR)
+24 hours (5pm, 11 Jan) 22.7S, 170.2E80 KTS (150 KM/HR)
+36 hours (5am, 12 Jan) 24.1S, 170.6E60 KTS (110 KM/HR)
+48 hours (5pm, 12 Jan) 25.5S, 171.4E40 KTS (75 KM/HR)

Heavy rain and possible flooding in low lying areas and areas close to the river banks including coastal flooding are expected over TAFEA province. Very rough to phenomenal seas with heavy swells are also expected.

The Vanuatu National Disaster Management Office (NDMO) advises that RED Alert is still in effect for TAFEA province. Vanuatu Red Cross is urging people in TAFEA Province to move to safe shelter immediately, ensuring they take with them an emergency kit/supplies and that any elderly or disabled neighbours and/or family are accounted for. They should also listen for updated via radio broadcasts where possible. 

Vanuatu Red Cross staff and volunteers are on standby with relief supplies in place should they be required.

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Tropikol Saeklon Woning Namba 10 lo Sevea Tropikol Saeklon Ula we i kamaot lo Vanuatu Meteorology mo Geo-Hazards Department, Port Vila lo 6:04pm VUT Sunday 10 January 2016. Lo 5:00pm lokal taem, Severe Tropical Cyclone Ula (941 hPa) Category 4 hemi stap lo 20.4 degrees South 170.7 degrees East. Severe Tropical Cyclone Ula oli loketem kolosao lo senta rait blo skwea leta J, namba 10 (J,10) insaed lo Vanuatu Tropikol saeklon Traking Map. Hemia, hemi stap 95 KM east southeast blo Aneityum mo 180 KM east southeast blo Tanna. Severe Tropical Cyclone Ula i bin muv lo southwest dareksen lo wan spid blo 13 KM/HR lo las 3 aoa we i pas. Presa lo medel blo saeklon ia hemi kolosap lo 941 hPa. Pawa blo win kolosap lo senta hemi 165 KM/HR. Sevea Tropikol saeklon Ula bai i muv i go lo 21.4 degrees South 170.2 degrees East lo nekis 06 kasem 12 aoa. Ol win we pawa blo ol i save kasem 65 igo kasem 75KM/HR oli expekted blo stap afektem TAFEA province.

Fokas Posisen
Dei mo taem PosisenPawa
+06 hours (11pm, 10 Jan)20.8S, 170.4E90 KTS (165 KM/HR)
+12 hours (5am, 11 Jan) 21.4S, 170.2E90 KTS (165 KM/HR)
+18 hours (11am, 11 Jan)22.0S, 170.1E90 KTS (165 KM/HR)
+24 hours (5pm, 11 Jan) 22.7S, 170.2E80 KTS (150 KM/HR)
+36 hours (5am, 12 Jan) 24.1S, 170.6E60 KTS (110 KM/HR)
+48 hours (5pm, 12 Jan) 25.5S, 171.4E40 KTS (75 KM/HR)

Ol win we i save spolem mo brekem ol samting mo solwora we i raf tumas wetem ol bigfala swel i expekted blo afektem TAFEA province. Bai hevi ren tu hemi save foldaon wetem posibiliti blo flat wota i save kam antap bigwan mo ron strong

VRCS assists cyclone-affected communities to deal with El Niño

VRCS assists cyclone-affected communities to deal with El Niño

Vanuatu Red Cross Society in collaboration with the Vanuatu Meteorology and Geo-hazards Department co-hosted a four-day climate workshop from November 11th-13th in Isangel (Tanna) aimed at increasing community awareness and understanding about the current El Niño weather event.

Many communities on Tanna Island face serious food and water shortages as a result of the current El Niño-related drought and lasting damage from Tropical Cyclone Pam.  The current El Niño event is one of the strongest global weather patterns on record and has resulted in drier-than-average conditions not only in Tanna, but Vanuatu-wide. Many of these drought-affected communities are still recovering after being severely impacted by Tropical Cyclone Pam.