Cyclone Pam Village Tanna Island

Tanna Island took the worst punishment from Tropical Cyclone Pam, due to the fact it was hit by the stronger southeast eyewall of the storm with winds of 155 mph (see pic). George lives in the village of Laounaoula (pop 120) on Tanna Island, Vanuatu.

My brother Adam arrived on the 21st March and found all the local bush homes have been destroyed, so the villagers have no homes. All the trees have lost their leaves, and gardens have been destroyed, including the fact that all the root crops (their main food source) have been spoiled, so they have no food other than some bananas, and aid still hadn't arrived by 30th.

Many face difficulties, particularly solo women like one lady whose husband deserted her years ago so she lived in a bush house on her father’s land in the village, with her 4 children who she has raised on her own from her garden. She has no income or support, there is no social welfare system, and she has struggled. Now because of Pam she hasn’t a home or a garden. There are a number of mothers in the same situation in the village.

Our family met George while he was fruit picking in NZ 6 years ago. George became a Christian and his life changed dramatically. His village is situated on the plateau on Tanna Island in a place called Middle Bush, where women and children collect their drinking water from steep bush ravines several times a day for their families. They had had many experts visit the village and tell them it was impossible to provide a solution to their water requirements, but my brother Adam designed a ram pump, and after a lot of hard work, the village has now had safe water pumped to tanks in the village. Of course then, many other villages wanted water, so the work went on. George worked hard servicing the pumps and helping Adam install them. He proudly carries his own business card with John 4:14 stamped on it. Many others in the village found the Lord so a lot of the work they did voluntarily, sharing the blessings they had received themselves. Then UNICEF and NZ Aid became partners and a 3 year project to install systems in 31 villages commenced in 2014. George managed to save and build a block house and moved in just 2 days before TC Pam hit. His house was the only home in his village to survive with its roof – it was this building which kept his family and other villagers safe in 155 mph winds.

The gallery pictures show before and after pictures.

Official relief reports say 70% of the housing on the island is destroyed, and there are acute shortages of food and clean water. In George’s village 95% of the housing has been destroyed. So when some have asked us if his village needs help. The answer is yes.

George’s favourite scripture is Isaiah 40:31, and he told Adam when he arrived despite the devastation they can see how the Lord is good - they are safe.

Any funds raised for George’s village will go towards initially any immediate needs like food, then rebuilding family homes particularly for the solo mothers in the village who now have nothing, and no support.