Supporting the communities of Ohlen Esqal, Mataso Island and Namaram Village - Vanuatu

Cyclone Pam ripped through the island nation of Vanuatu, destroying homes, power and water supplies, food crops and everything in-between. For the thousands of people already living in extreme poverty, this natural disaster has left them with absolutely nothing - no food, no water, no shelter and no way to rebuild their lives.

Meeting the immediate needs of these communities in crisis is essential, but so too is providing long term support. The first food crops will take 4-5 months to produce, and it will be at least 2 years before they are properly replenished. In the meantime, families will need to purchase food with money they simply do not have.

If a person is lucky enough to have work, they are paid an average of $50NZD per week, and this usually supports an extended family of up to 30 people. Urban communities are facing increased pressure as women and children are being brought in from the islands so the men can rebuild.

International Aid Agencies are focussing their efforts on populated areas, which means many small communities are still waiting. They are relying on friends and family outside of Vanuatu to send support directly to their villages.

My daughter Courtney has been working as a Volunteer Teacher in Namaram, Pentecost. She was evacuated to Port Vila, and I have spent the last 8 days with her providing relief to urban communities.

I have worked in many poor communities around the world, but never have I seen such immediate need on such an enormous scale. It is easy to become overwhelmed by the amount of support required, so we are choosing to follow Mother Theresa's Mantra: "If you can't feed one thousand people, just feed one"

We are focussing our support on 3 communities:

1. The urban community of Ohlen Esqal, just outside of Port Vila. There are approximately 300 people in this community, and this number will double as women and children arrive from the islands.

For the last week we have been purchasing and distributing food, water, tools and building materials to this community, as well as establishing a mini-clinic to dress wounds caused by broken branches and flying iron. Where the infection was too bad for us to treat, we have been escorting and paying for people to attend the local clinic.

2. The island of Mataso. 100 people live on this island, and they lost 2 loved ones in the cyclone. One person died immediately when their house collapsed, and the other survived 5 days after being hit by a falling tree. Not a single structure, tree or crop survived, and at the time I was leaving Port Vila, they were still waiting for aid. Men from Ohlen Esqal had taken out rice and water in a boat, and returned with women and children.

3. Level School and the village of Namaram, Pentecost. This has been Courtney's home and is currently classified as being in Food Crisis. The terrain makes it very difficult to get aid in, and because of this Courtney is currently unable to return to her Ni-Van family.

Assuming crops are re-established, she hopes to return to Level School in July. She will use some of the money raised to purchase items most useful for the village at that time.

We are working with local Ni-Vanuatu to ensure that this money is used effectively for long-term support and that aid goes to the families most in need.

Any and all contributions so gratefully received.