Yesterday marked the official launch of Vanuatu Red Cross Society's Tropical Cyclone Pam Six Month Progress Report.
Red Cross was the first organisation to carry out official relief operations, distributing essential supplies to affected people in the first month following Cyclone Pam. Six months on, we've provided assistance to an estimated 39,915 people affected by TC Pam in Vanuatu.
The first few months following the cyclone focused on relief – making sure that people could survive in the aftermath of the disaster. Now, the focus has moved to longer term recovery, to reconstruction and to being better prepared for future disasters. Following the relief activities, the recovery priorities for Red Cross in Vanuatu are to provide the means for cyclone-affected households to rebuild their damaged houses, have safe places for refuge and improve access to safe water, especially considering the increased likelihood of extended drought caused by El Nino. Recovery programs are currently being conducted in the areas of shelter, health, livelihoods, disaster risk reduction, and water, sanitation & hygiene (WASH). Read more here.
Vanuatu Red Cross Society wishes to thank all who were involved and all who have supported us in the TC Pam emergency response and also for the ongoing support we continue to receive during the longer term recovery. The remarkable generosity of our supporters – individuals, businesses, partner national societies and the IFRC – drives our ability to provide relief to the people of Vanuatu in this time of need. Thank-you.
To read more about what Vanuatu Red Cross has been doing since Cyclone Pam struck Vanuatu click here. For a Bislama version, click here