Humanity Road

Situation Report #8 – (period covered: March 13 to March 21)

Prepared by: Humanity Road / Animals in Disaster     Follow: @Humanityroad / @Disasteranimals / @jAIDDog

Situation Overview

Final Report – Updates concluded on March 21, 2015 8:00am (Vanuatu time)

Introduction:

20 March – Day 7: Category 5 Cyclone Pam has caused widespread, severe damage and loss of life through the country of Vanuatu, particularly in the Central and Southern regions, which experienced a direct hit. A state of emergency is in place for Shefa Province, Vanuatu, and is likely to be extended to Tanna, Tafea, Malampa and Penama Provinces as previously inaccessible and incommunicado areas are reached and assessed.  The storm made landfall in Vanuatu around 12:30am on 14 March. Communications networks have gone down, and there is massive property damage in many areas. Water has been restored to up to 80% of Port Vila but in other areas, waterborne diseases such as diarrhea are a major risk. Hospitals & supplies incurred serious damage; 2 UNICEF tents have been set up; supplies have arrived and more en route.  (Source: NDMO Sitrep 3 – Mar 16)

Over the past 7 days, Humanity Road volunteers have sifted through nearly 300k Twitter and Facebook messages.  Responders from across the globe are on-site and providing critically needed relief, but Pam’s devastation was widespread, and many nearly-obliterated communities desperately need basic relief. Vanuatu includes over 80 smaller islands, many of which are devastated and have so far been unreachable and/or may be underserved by responders.

Below are highlights for the past 48 hours which includes Urgent Needs, Significant Updates, Social Media Highlights, and Highlights for Underserved Locations.  The section below that is in the full report on the Humanity Road website includes emergency contact information and contacts for hospitals and utilities.  

UPDATE MEDEVAC Need on Tanna Resolved:

• The medevac patient on Tanna is confirmed as transported. “APAN- On 18 March a 12-person team travelled to Tanna in Tafea province. As well as representatives from UNDAC, IFRC, the Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART), UNICEF and WASH, education and protection clusters, the team included medical staff from Vanuatu and Australia, who stabilized a critically ill nine-year-old girl and transferred her to Port Vila for specialist care. The rest of the team visited with the Secretary General Tafea.  

Urgent Needs:

• Mataso Island (coordinates: -17.254601,168.427002) – as of 20 March, no relief or assessment teams have visited the island.  Severe damage and injuries.  Medical help needed immediately. Unconfirmed report of a death that occurred recently that could have been prevented had help arrived sooner. (source)
• Anatom Island (coordinates -20.191486,169.824036) – as of 18 March, they need drinking water. (source)
• Emae Island (coordinates -16.376684,167.562500) – as of 18 March, evacuation centres need lighting, especially around outside toilet areas, and people with disabilities need care. (source)
• Futuna Island (coordinates -19.533300,170.216995) – All crops on the island have been destroyed; they need food aid. (source)
• 18 Mar:  Blood shortage at Central Hospital in Port Vila via a video interview with a staff person at the hospital. (source)  21 Mar: no updates were found on social media or the internet regarding the situation or delivery of blood.

Significant Updates:

21 March:

• 4:25am Via Standby Task Force – photo map by islands (source)
• 4:00am Via Digicel – SES and Digicel donate Satellite equipment (source)

20 March:  

• Via UNOCHA – (source)
• Via WFP – For those involved with restoring Telecommunications (source)
• Via Humanity Road – to understand how social media helps save lives (source)
• Via Standby Task Force – Photo Map Story of Vanuatu (source)
• Via Reliefweb – official disaster response agency reports (source)
• Via WFP and Logistics Cluster – General Logistics Planning Map (source)
• Via WFP and Logistics Cluster – Concept of Operations Map (source)
• Via Red Cross Australia – Cyclone Pam Damage Assessment Map (source)

• The Farm Support Association is using the radio in Vanuatu to urge farmers to replant crops immediately so vegetables will be available in 2-3 months.  Farmers can use food aid until they have new crops, but they should not feel they can rely on this aid for a long period of time.  Also any remaining crops need to be harvested and eaten quickly. (source)

19 March:

• Via MapAction – Status of airports as of 18 March. (source) 
• Via MapAction – map of NDMO assessment teams for 18 and 19 March. (source) 

• 19 Mar:  via the Superintendent of Port Vila Central Hospital, Doctor Richard Leona – 2 new deaths recorded at Lenakel Hospital on Tanna on 18 March.  Over 100 people have been admitted at Port Vila Central Hospital.  The injured people are from Port Vila, Tanna and Moso in North of Efate.  The hospital is benefitting from foreign health teams.  They are now facing an outbreak of diarrhea and measles in Port Vila, and there are cases of typhoid on Tanna. (source)
• 19 Mar:  The main hospital in Port Vila is open and running.  There have been 41 births since the cyclone, eight overnight, though with skeletal staff.  According to UNFPA, there is a lot of demand for family planning services and because ante-natal clinics are closed, we know that this will be the first area to address as soon as we are able to proceed; the final assessments are still coming in.  We have received reports of people asking for contraceptives especially condoms as the majority of community clinics remain shut. (source) 

• 19 Mar:  Save the Children is warning that more than 2,000 children are at risk of potentially deadly illnesses like diarrhea because drinking water reserves have been contaminated.  They are hearing reports that children are contracting waterborne diseases, such as diarrhea, and the longer these children have to drink contaminated water, the more likely it is they will become sick.  Some communities are reporting only having about a week’s supply of drinking water left. (source)

• The government through the National Disaster Management Office (NDMO) has not distributed any of the food aid packages to the people in the islands and areas adversely affected by cyclone Pam to date.  Government Public Relations Officer, Kiery Manasseh, told the Vanuatu Daily Post that distribution is not actioned just yet, firstly because in the first days and first week after cyclone Pam, people in the islands are likely to still have crops, such as yams in their gardens that are still edible as this is the yam season.  It is the second week and months that it is going to be crucial.  Another factor cited for the delayed distribution is the insufficient supply of stock or rations. (source)

Social Media General Highlights:

As of March 21, 8:00am Analysis of Social Media:

• New posts on Facebook are beginning to focus on people outside the country self-organizing to collect and send relief supplies to Vanuatu.

• We have aggregated nearly 300,000 tweets and facebook posts from selected locations and after filtering for noise and relevance performed manual review. Tweet volumes for this selected search are running between 100-900 tweets per minute.  

• The Humanitarian OpenStreetmaps community is Mapping the Vanuatu Islands. New Guides,
  how to get involved.

Facebook Highlights last 24 hours:

20 Mar:  Many of the new posts are changing from status questions and updates to relief efforts.

Vanuatu Cyclone Pam 2015 

• 21 Mar: Hi all; Interested in sending vegetable seeds to Vanuatu? Attached is the list of approved seed suppliers by Biosecurity Vanuatu (Quarantine).

• 21 Mar: The Havannah Resort is seeking donations (of school supplies) for the villages their side of the Island.
• 21 Mar: I’m happy to confirm that Optus are offering Free calls to Vanuatu from 7am EST this morning, through until Midnight on the 27th of March 2015. The free calls will be available on Optus Fixed line phones, as well as Pre-Paid & Post-Paid Mobile services.
• 21 Mar: ‪Thanks‬ Polynesia – Several tons of food were collected in Polynesia to help Vanuatu Cyclone Pam. President Edouard Fritch will also visit Vanuatu this weekend to convey his country sympathy to the government of Vanuatu.
• 21 Mar: By virtue of Order No. 15 of 2015 issued under the National Disaster Act: “the Vanuatu Immigration Services (through the Director) and the Labour Department (through the Commissioner) must facilitate and ensure that interim visas or special category visas and labout work permits are issued in a speedy and efficient manner, to persons, upon the approval of the Chairperson of the National Disaster Committee, who enter Vanuatu to assist the Vanuatu Government on matters related to the Vanuatu Government’s response to the effects of cyclone Pam.
• 21 Mar: Lulep and Tavie, Paama have both been very badly hit, Luli, has fared a little better; does anyone have any more detail, please? Any news of how the West Coast of Paama is?

Vanuatu Cyclone Pam 2015 Find My Family –   a site created for people to post information about missing loved ones.

• 21 Mar: Red Cross has reached Tanna… Describing massive damage to all buildings.. Reports should be coming in today.

• 21 Mar: The house and surroundings (of Mele Village) are looking so much better than a few days ago (thanks to local repair efforts.)
• 20 Mar: I have spoken to a family in Blacksands. They said everyone is OK, but they have lost their gardens and taken damage to most of their houses.
• 21 Mar: Westpac Pacific: To further help out the local communities in Vanuatu, Westpac is pleased to announce we will waive our outgoing fees on all telegraphic transfers of money to Vanuatu from any Westpac branch in Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific. Note – this fee waiver comes into effect later this week and applies to branch transfers (not online) until end of May 2015.

Humans of Vanuatu – information and pictures from a local in Port Vila.

• 21 Mar: Just watched a barge loaded with relief supplies steaming down the channel, destination: Epi island…There are months of hard, hard work ahead, but I’m beginning to think we can do this.

• 21 Mar: Air Vanuatu: Good morning. Our international flights are operating as normal and domestic flights are being added daily. Today, we are operating to Santo and Tanna. Tomorrow, we will return to Norsup, Longana and Walaha as well. Sunday, we’re back in to Craig Cove, Sola, Ulei and Lonorore.

• 21 Mar: (Local resident) Just got back from ‪MatasoIsland‬. My home island swept by ‪PAM‬. Death toll -2. Plenty of people badly injured. All Houses down. Walking up the island is like visiting a new settlement; all old landmarks, trees, and houses are swept away.
• 21 Mar: UPDATE: Spoke with the MP for Epi, Robert Bohn this morning. He assures me that Lamen Bay is in relatively okay shape – that is, there’s damage, but no worse than elsewhere. Lamen Island, on the other hand, was quite badly hit. The south end of Epi seems to have taken the worst of it.
• 20 Mar: The Shepherds are as we feared. ‘Wiped out’ was the phrase used….There are boats, barges and planes on the way as I write this.

Pacific Island Living – this page has shared information and news including news from resorts and tourist areas reporting their status.

• 21 Mar: Many Vila hotels are reporting they will return to normal operations within two months. (source)
• 21 Mar: Warwick Le Lagon Resort & Spa: The clean up is well underway at Warwick Le Lagon. Our beautiful team are all in good spirit.

Twitter Highlights from Last 24 Hours:

21 March:

• Tongoa Island resident is disappointed in the slowness of aid to his starving village. (Source)

• Cyclone Pam: Oxfam director’s first hand account from Port Vila (Source)
• From a NZ aid ship: The sea is rougher than expected.  First stop at Matapoa, ETA 2:00 am VUT. This shipment is a preliminary to govt. aid. (Source)
• From same ship: Sad to hear of 3 more deaths in the Shepherds. (Source)
• SavetheChildren UK News: We have conducted a number of food, water and equipment distributions that have reached 2,739 people (Source)
• News: UK announces key partners to deliver vital supplies to #Vanuatu victims http://ow.ly/KAXDB  (Source)
• An aid worker on Vanuatu’s remote Pentecost Island suggests many of the crops there have been destroyed. http://bbc.in/1Ocd52b (Source)
• Just spoke to friends in Central Pentecost. Everyone is ok. Every nakamal flattened, crops destroyed. Food running low. But the people are safe. (Source)
• Early reports suggest vast majority of #crops destroyed in #Vanuatu #CyclonePam #tcpam http://bit.ly/199hsKR  (Source)
• Oxfam:
• Access to good and safe water completely blocked off. Our neighbours need our help. Relying on generosity of Australians. (Source)
• It’ll be months before #Vanuatu can get back on its feet. https://youtu.be/6GPof6neuic  (Source)
• Many villages had 80-100% of buildings damaged or destroyed on #Vanuatu islands of Tanna & Erromango. (Source)
• Crucial part of assistance = provision of seeds or seedlings, with tools so that people can re-establish gardens. (Source)
• OxfamInVanuatu: a tough week passed & more to come – thanks @Oxfam @OxfamAustralia and the amazing team working in response to #CyclonePam (Source)

Underserved Locations Highlights:

Penama Province:

• Ambae Island (coordinates -15.400000,167.833328)
• 20 Mar:  according to missionaries on the island, many gardens were wiped out.  At the big market house here there are plenty of pomplemoose (giant grapefruit) and root vegetables. Most of the bananas went down so the food shortage may occur in a month or so when new crops are not ripe.  About 2,600 (pounds) of rice and flour have been sent to the island. (source)

• Maewo Island (-15.159912,168.145508)

• 18 Mar:  via an aerial flight assessment, no major damage, but banana trees blown down. (source)

• Pentecost Island (coordinates -15.740634,168.188629), population 16,843.
• 20 Mar: An aid worker on Vanuatu’s remote Pentecost Island says many of the crops there have been destroyed and food security is a major issue.  There will be no food after 2-3 weeks. (source) (Source)

• 19 Mar: Medical Santo landed at Sara on Pentecost, and there are 2 pregnant women who they will attempt to lift to NPH tomorrow.  They tried to do this today but the women had gone back into the bush.  They will take their Obs and Gyn doctor to assess the women before airlifting them. (source)
• 19 Mar:  via the Tanbok Project, a UK charity that has been working on Pentecost, there is a huge gradient in the scale of damage to villages from 0% to 100%.  Houses and crops have been lost.  They are still trying to map out the situation and have heard of 2 casualties so far.  They are hearing the phone lines are back up on the island. (source)
• 18 Mar:  An NDMO assessment team consisting of DARD, ADRA Vanuatu, and MOE conducted a survey in Lonorore to capture reports for central and east Pentecost where some damage was incurred.  Due to geographical location, damaged infrastructure, and time and financial constraints, the team was not able to actually make it to the central and eastern side which was reported to be more affected than the other areas of Pentecost, and the survey respondents were not from east or central Pentecost.  Second-hand reports say roads from the south to east part of the island are damaged and blocked by fallen trees.  Other roads in the east are not accessible by vehicle.  Local NGOs are equipped with vehicles that can make it on the repaired roads only. Boat transport is accessible to Lonorore Airport.  Water and sanitation is an issue in the central area.  Rongon has 2 full water tanks, but they are contaminated.  The water system in Lonorore is also contaminated.  The status of water in the east is unknown.  People in evacuation centers are in good health, and there are no reports of injuries (status of central and east unknown).  The following schools have been damaged: – Santari school, (southeast), Melsisi school (central), Ranwadi High school (central), and Upiku school (central). (source) (source)

Shefa Province:

• Buninga (coordinates -16.376684,167.562500)

• 20 Mar:  via UNICEF – most houses are damaged and roofless, gardens and trees destroyed, schools damaged, roads blocked. (source)

• Efate Island, Siviri Village (coordinates -17.533300,168.317001)

• 20 Mar:  no new information found on social media or the internet.
• 18 Mar:  The village was visited by a person from Port Vila.  He reported they are in desperate need of food and water. (source) Photo from village. (source) Photo of destroyed home. (source)
• 16 Mar: Photo from Siviri (source)

• Efate Island, Takara Village (coordinates -15.316700,167.182999)

• 20 Mar:  no new information found on social media or the internet.

• 16 Mar:  Photo of road blocked by trees leading to Taraka. (source)

• Efate Island, Erakor Village (coordinates -17.783001,168.300003)

• 19 Mar:  Erakor has received no aid and needs water.  It is a 10 minute drive from Port Vila.  Residents were told by the government to wait and not to go to Port Vila for help.  (source)
• 18 Mar:  No government or NGOs have visited the people of Erakor Half Road. Residents told VIW today that no single help such water has been drop to them. In Erakor main village, complaints were raised that assessment team only went to evacuation centre. People of Erakor said that if government and NGOs want good assessment, the team should have done house to house visits. They said that they’re afraid that the assessment report will not really reflect the real situation in the village. Over 2 000 people registered  to vote during the last election in Erakor. The majority of the houses have been destroyed. (source)

• Efate Island, Tanilou Village
• 20 Mar:  No new information found on social media or the internet.
• 18 Mar:  The village was visited by a person from Port Vila.  He reported they are in desperate need of food and water. (source) 

• Efate Island, Paonangisu Village (coordinates -17.533300,168.399994)
• 20 Mar:  No new information found on social media or the internet.
• 18 March: Paonangisu and Takara will run out of food in less than two weeks.  Bring in people who can provide Internet services because communications here are suffering without reception or a signal (source)

• Efate Island, Emua Village (coordinates -17.549999,168.367004)
• 20 Mar:  No new information found on social media or the internet.
• 18 Mar:  The village was visited by a person from Port Vila.  He reported they are in desperate need of food and water. (source)

• Efate Island, Mele Village (coordinates -17.689863, 168.289880)

• 19 Mar, 3:00pm: Cheif Kalokai Masai says crops have been destroyed and villagers have to dig up crops from under floodwater, working on rebuilding their damaged school (source)

• Efate Island, Taunono Village (near Port Vila) population about 200.

• 20 Mar:  No new information found on social media or the internet.
• 17 Mar: via UNICEF visit to Village Chief Narua Joe Kwane – All houses are damaged or destroyed.  Everyone is sleeping outside. They have received no food or water and are scavenging for coconuts.  All the fruit trees are gone.  They owned a small Nakamal (a traditional gathering area) where local men used to come to drink cava. It was their main source of income but now it’s all gone. (source)

• Emae Island, Shepherd Islands (coordinates -16.376684,167.562500)

• 18 Mar:  via NDMO – as of 18 March, evacuation centres are overcrowded, lacked privacy and lighting, particularly around toilet facilities (all outside). Appropriate attention to the needs of people with a disability or high level care needs seemed lacking. (source)
• 18 Mar:  The NDMO sent an assessment team on 18 March.  As of 18 Mar, no NGOs have reported they are supporting this island.  Roads are blocked between the airport and villages, chainsaws are required, 90% of dwellings damaged or destroyed and temporary shelters needed, hygiene kits are needed, only 3 working vehicles on island, no electricity, no communications, most of the rainwater storage tanks are damaged and water is being rationed from the 3 that remain, pumping and rainwater harvesting equipment destroyed, groundwater is contaminated, latrines destroyed, 50% of livestock lost, only 1-2 weeks of food left, medical clinic was partially damaged and medicines and supplies are needed, there is an urgent need for a replacement referral boat. (source)
• 17 Mar:  Before and after photos from Emae Island. (source) 

• Emao Island (coordinates -17.483299,168.483002)
• 17 March:  Anyone looking for information for EMAU — I have been able to reach one person in Mangarongo Village. As far as she knew, they are all alive! There is phenomenal damage — loss of houses, food, clean water. All of Marou Village has moved up to Mangarongo School. People in Mangarongo are sleeping in the church. Not sure about the rest of the island, but as far as she knew, everyone is alive.

• Epi Island  

• 21 Mar: UPDATE: Spoke with the MP for Epi, Robert Bohn this morning. He assures me that Lamen Bay is in relatively okay shape – that is, there’s damage, but no worse than elsewhere. Lamen Island, on the other hand, was quite badly hit. The south end of Epi seems to have taken the worst of it
• 20 Mar: Still no word from Epi in social media or traditional media.

• 18 Mar:  An NDMO rapid assessment was carried out on 18 March. (source)
• 16 Mar:  Flyover of Epi Guesthouse showed that area structures appeared intact with survivors waving to plane. (source)

• Mataso Island (coordinates: -17.254601,168.427002)
• 20 Mar:  No assessment or relief teams have been there.  Facebook post from former resident who was able to get to the island: “Just got back from Mataso Island. My home island swept by PAM. Death doll -2. Plenty of people badly injured.  All Houses down. Walking up the island is like visiting a new settlement, all old landmarks, trees, houses swept away.” Photo. (source) 

• Moso Island, Shepherd Islands (coordinates: -17.533300,168.250000)

• 20 Mar:  The first team has arrived on the ground in remote Suni Village, Moso. delivering drinking water and fuel for boats and chainsaws. (source)
• 18 Mar: Report regarding villagers drinking saltwater needs to be verified.  There is an ongoing Facebook argument by locals that says islands in Vanuatu are largely porous limestone. The rain leeches down into the stone and exits at the shore.  It is not only common but also very safe to dig into the beach and tap these springs for drinking water. (source) It is also possible, however, that the water supply has been contaminated.
• 17 Mar: Villagers in the community of Taseriki have received no help and many houses are flattened.  There are no shops, people grow their own food, and their crops have been destroyed.  Children are going hungry, and they are having to scavenge for food.  People are drinking salt water.  (source)  

• Nguna Island (coordinates: -17.433300,168.350006), 13 villages, population 1,300.

• 19 Mar:  Taloa village has water for about a week, fruit trees and vegetable gardens destroyed, building materials are scarce.  Other communities on the island probably suffered the same fate. (source)
• 17 Mar: No contact, no communications.  It is likely houses were destroyed, and likely that there are needs. (source)

• Tongariki Island (coordinates -17.016701,168.617004)
• 20 Mar:  via UNICEF – most houses are damaged and roofless, gardens and trees destroyed, schools damaged, roads blocked. (source)

• Tongoa Island, Shepherd Islands (coordinates for airport -16.891100,168.550995)

• 19 Mar:  Save the Children is preparing to ship 1,300 gallons to Tongoa Island. (source)
• 19 Mar, 7:00pm – a boat is reportedly leaving for Tongoa Island taking people who are looking for their families.  They will bring back news. (source) 
• 18 Mar, 7:30am – People on Tongoa island signaling for help by holding up mirrors. (source) (new)
• 17 Mar: In Tongoa – a small island that has about 3,000 people – 95% of homes are estimated to have been destroyed (unconfirmed). (source)
• Tongoa Island resident is disappointed in the slowness of aid to his starving village. (Source)

Tafea Province

• Anatom Island (coordinates -20.191486,169.824036), population 915.
• 18 Mar:  An NDMO rapid assessment was carried out on 18 March.  The island was less damaged than Tanna, but they need drinking water. (source)

• Aniwa Island, Tafea Chain (-19.234444, 169.600556) – population 341  
• 21 Mar:  No new information found on social media or the internet.  People on Facebook are asking for information.
• 17 Mar: in Tafea chain with villages Imalé, Isavaï, Ikaokao, Namsafoura,  In the north part of there is the Aniwa Airport  (IATA: AWD, ICAO: NVVB) that is connected to Dillon’s Bay, Futuna, Ipota, Tanna. Air Vanuatu is the only airline connecting the local airport. Aniwa Ocean View Bungalows is the only tourist resort in the island and it is located in the south .Their FaceBook page is not updated since 2013 but here you can find the contact addresses of the owners. The island is also home to B&B tel +678 561 6506 http://www.aniwaoceanview.com ,  aniwaoceanviewbungalows@gmail.com

• Erromango Island (coordinates: -18.813889, 169.122778), Population 1,959

• 20 Mar: One of the areas worst affected is Dillon’s Bay on Erromango, which was in the eye of the storm. (source) 
• 18 Mar:  An NDMO rapid assessment was carried out on 18 March. (source)
• 18 Mar: an aerial assessment showed 70-100% destroyed. (source)  Teams have reportedly flown to the island with supplies. (source) 

• Futuna Island (coordinates -19.533300,170.216995)
• 20 Mar:  via New Zealand Red Cross – all crops on the island have been destroyed. (source)
• 18 Mar:  NDMO sent an assessment team to the island.  The communications tower is down, vegetable gardens are damaged and remaining crops will last 2 weeks, no count of damaged fruit trees, shops are open and trading, no deaths, minor injuries. (source)
• Tanna Island (also Tana) (coordinates -19.490149,169.359192), Population  29,047

• 19 Mar:  Unconfirmed cases of typhoid on Tanna. (source)
• 19 Mar: The Red Cross delivered 2,250 Tarpaulins, 250 shelter kits, 4 x 1,000 liter poly tanks, rolls of poly pipes, purification water machine parts as the machine was transported to Tanna by air yesterday and fuel for vehicles to transport the relief items to the communities. (source)
• 18 Mar:  The NDMO sent an assessment team on 18 March.  Water and sanitation (WASH) are a key concern; many rainwater collection tanks damaged; bore sites damaged and/or contaminated; pit toilets are being dug; much of the electricity infrastructure has been destroyed; more than 1000 people were displaced and many are sheltering in damaged schools; the hospital was damaged and need medical and surgical supplies, cold chain storage, and fuel for their generator; many people including children are visibly distressed; food stocks are depleted; no fresh fruit or vegetables left; 90% banana crop destroyed; there has been an increase in assaults on women and children. (NDMO Assessment)

• 17 Mar: Satellite imagery map of Tanna Island from UNITAR/UNOSAT (source)

Malampa Province:

• Ambrym Island (coordinates -16.250000,168.116669)

• 18 Mar: National Disaster Management Office (NDMO) with Vanuatu Country Team (CVT) conducted rapid assessment with the following key findings: (source)

• Needs: potable water system, food, fuel, medical supplies, alternative waste disposal/management system, sanitary/hygiene advocacy programs to prevent disease, restore power for communications, alternative source of income for farmers.
• No reported deaths or related injuries, majority of people have moved out from evacuation centres. Island roads to affected communities are fully accessible. Most villages can now be reached by foot, vehicles or boat. Local authorities are equipped with trucks and boats to reach affected communities, therefore possible to receive relief goods.  Potable drinking water is a major concern. Water well reported contaminated. Claims of families starting to drink water from possible contaminated hand pumps, polytanks and underground wells. Very limited or no access to functioning sanitary facilities. No outbreaks of communicable diseases are reported to date.  Aid posts are still up and running (and latrines are in good/functioning condition) but in urgent need of medical supplies.  96% of food crops destroyed, food stock in centres will only last for 2 weeks.  Fuel supplies will only last about 2 weeks.

• 18 Mar, 7:30am: Aerial assessments of Ambrym island reported large white ‘Hs’ marked out on the ground by people signaling for help. (source)

• Paama Island (coordinates -16.466700,168.216995)

• 19 Mar: Medical Santo landed on the ground in Paama today. There is major destruction of buildings and many trees on the ground. No serious medical requirements were requested but a very distraught community. They were overwhelmed to see Medical Santo land. They told us that they will need food by the end of this week. We will try and get water samples tested tomorrow by the Red Cross and give an update. (source)
  

 National Links

Regional and Local Links

Government of Vanuatu

Vanuatu Meteorological Services

Email: forecast@meteo.gov.vu

Phone: +678 22932

Current Warnings: http://bit.ly/1MydhFw

To get more info on Vanuatu situation, FB page of Humans of Vanuatu provided this email address gcrumb@gmail.com

Some information is being received by people overseas reaching relatives in Vanuatu – information is being posted on the Vanuatu Cyclone Pam 2015 Facebook page.  

Communications

Emergency Numbers

Status of Communication Networks

17 March:

Digicel has phone charging stations @ Chew Store & Market House Kiosk 8.30am-4.30pm; Flagship Store 8am-5pm (source)

16 March:

Public charging stations are being deployed across the islands so that customers can power their phones and Digicel is providing US$250,000 in free credit so that customers can get in touch with their loved ones as services are restored. (source) (source)

15 March:

— 5:00pm – Via Digicel Vanuatu – A jpg map has been posted on Digicel FaceBook with red circles of areas where service has been restored. Digicel advises the public to follow them in FaceBook for official updates on further restorals. Digicel also advises that while service may be restored, power remains out and cell phones may be dead (source).

Sites that re up include: VTU002 Shefa_SDA Secondary; VTU003 Shefa_Malapoa Estate; VTU007 Shefa_Erakor 3G Sector A

VTU008 Shefa_Ellouk; VTU023 Shefa_Pango; VTU024 Meteo Head office; VTU004 Shefa_Ohlen; VTU005 Shefa_Lalua

— TVL has one tower for mobile working, near the hill going up from Vila town to Namba 2. (source)

Communications Companies & Contact Information

Digicel

Email: customercarevanuatu@digicelgroup.com 

From a Digicel mobile (local): 123 (free call) From a land line (local): 555 6001  From a Digicel mobile (International): +678 5556 001

Telecom Vanuatu 

Phone: 081111

From overseas: +678 7781111

Email: customercare@tvl.net.vu 

Telsat Pacific

Telsat Broadband

Phone: +678 23407

Email: telsat@telsatbb.vu 

Facebook

Radio:

FM107, Port Vila (streaming online – currently offline as of 8am, 15 Mar)

ABC Radio Australia (streaming online with #TCPam reports)

Ham Radio:

Very few operators in YJ.  All I can suggest is IARU Region 3 COE’s:

3.600, 7.110, 14.300, 18.160 and 21.360 MHz (source: @VK2CSW)

Emergencies

Free national emergency numbers:

– Ambulance 112

– Paramedics (Promedical) 115

– Police 111

– Fire 113

– Ports 114 

Reunification & Other Assistance

Vanuatu Red Cross

Phone: (+678) 27418

Emergencies: 777 37 53

International Red Cross family reunification page. List missing persons and register persons alive.

Vanuatu Cyclone Pam website (includes a Locate Friends/Relatives page)

Vanuatu Cyclone Pam 2015 Find My Family (Facebook page being used by people searching for family/friends)

Vanuatu Cyclone Pam 2015 (Facebook page)

People are posting information about relatives they haven’t reached.

US Embassy in Papua New Guinea (covers Vanuatu)

Emergency hotline for American citizens: 675-7200-9439

Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade, Australia

Australian High Commission emergency number for people in Australia worried about friends/relatives in the Pacific: 1300 555 135.  Open 24/7.  They need full names, date of birth and where they were when cyclone hit.

Consular Emergency Centre, Canberra, Australia

Help for Australians:

From anywhere in world: +61 2 6261 3305

From Australia: 1300 555 135

New Zealand Embassy in Vanuatu

La Casa D’Andrea E Luciano, Rue Pierre Lamy

Port Vila

Phone: 00 678 22933

Email: kiwi@vanuatu.com.vu

British High Commission Honiara (covers Vanuatu)

Phone: (+677) 21705

Email: bhc@solomon.com.sb 

Hospitals / Medical Support

Shelters

Status of Hospitals

17 March

— A medical team and field hospital is deploying from Darwin, Australia.  They will be setting up their operations at Vila Central Hospital. (source)

— The Japanese government is sending a 14 person medical team to Vanuatu. They will arrive tonight 18th Mar. The Japanese Red Cross is also going to send their medical team. (source)

–An Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) Taskforce of 54 emergency services personnel led by Fire & Rescue New South Wales (NSW) (FRNSW), Australia is deploying.  Will include one doctor and 6 paramedics. (source)

— Video of inside Lenekal Tanna Hospital via CNN -19.533948, 169.289778

16 March:

— Vila Central Hospital is functioning, but kitchen, store, and children’s wards need rebuilding.  Makeshift hospital wards will be set up in the hospital carpark using UNICEF tents.  An Australian medical team is on the ground, and a New Zealand team is arriving 17 March. UNICEF has shipped containers for the management of deceased persons. (source)

—@AmeriCares deploying #NewYork mobile medical team (source)

— WHO is sending health and emergency response experts with supplies and UNICEF are also working with the Ministry of Health to conduct an immunization campaign in response to a measles outbreak that began before the cyclone (Source)

Health Service Profile for Vanuatu from 2012 (reference)

Hospitals, Port Vila

— Port Vila Bay Hospital
Phone: 27 777

Email: vbhc@vanuatu.com.vu 

— Port Vila Central Hospital

Phone: 22 100

Email: vch@vanuatu.gov.vu 

Hospitals, Espiritu Santo

Northern Provincial Hospital, Luganville

Phone: 36 345

Email: tvurobaravu@gmail.com or tsala@vanuatu.gov.vu 

Hospitals, Outer Islands

Norsup Hospital, Malakula, Ph: 678 48 410

Lolowai Hospital, East Ambae, Ph: 38 302

NduiNdui Hospital, West Ambae, Ph: 38345

Melsisi Hospital Melsisi, Pentecost, Ph: 38 366/38 170

Lenakel Hospital Isangel, -19.533948, 169.289778 Tanna, Ph: 68 659

Doctors, Efate,

Pro Medical Paramedics, Port Vila, ph 25 566

Dr Jean Luc Bador, Port Vila, Drug Store,
ph 23 036 22 925  Email jlbdr@vanautu.com.vu

Dr Finberg & Dr Tulimanu, Port Vila, Drug Store,
ph 22 826  26 946

Dr Frank Spooner, Port Vila Drug Store, ph 23 380

Doctors, Espiritu Santo

Dr Timothy Vocor, Luganville, ph 36 141 36 141

Medical evacuation  from the outer islands is conducted by local aircraft with paramedic and advanced life support equipment. Overseas medevac for non-critical patients (seated or on stretchers) is onboard Air Vanuatu’s Boeing 737-300 to Brisbane, Sydney, or Auckland. Seriously ill patients are evacuated by Queensland-based air ambulance with a medical team

AMBULANCE SERVICE / MEDICAL
Tel (678) 122 Vila Central Hospital
Tel (678) 37112 Santo Hospital
Tel (678) Lenakel Hospital Tanna
Tel (678) Lolowai Hospital Ambae
Tel (678) Norsup Hospital Malekula

Status of Evacuation Centres/Shelters

17 March ‏

— More than 3,370 people are sheltering in some 48 evacuation centres in Efate. (source)

–– Location of Evacuation Centres Map, MapAction, 17 March 2015

–ShelterBox is sending 1,000 shelter kits from prepositioned stock to help repair damaged buildings in #Vanuatu. http://bit.ly/1LfAzVi
— @HabitatAu  has sent assessment team  to #Vanuatu http://bit.ly/1LoMujI

16 March:

— around 3,300 people sheltering in 37 evacuation centres. (source)

— 1,640 shelter kits for use by families of five people and more than 1900 solar lanterns with inbuilt mobile phone chargers enroute from @DFID

— Diesel fuel is needed for chainsaws and generators. (source)  

— Something to cook with is needed because the wood is too wet to make fires. (source)

Power is needed to turn on the water pumps or mosquitoes will become a problem. (source)

15 March:

— Via NDMO Sitrep #3 – NDMO formed an Evacuation Centres Working Group to ensure that the safety, protection and needs of the evacuees are being prioritised with other operational planning.

— An Evacuation Centres Working Group comprised of Vanuatu Red Cross, Protection, Gender and Disability, WASH and Logistics specialists to manage assessments and assistance to people.

— Assessments of Evacuation Centres and Registration of evacuees are to start on Sunday, 15 March.

Red Cross

Vulnerable Populations

Offices & Contact Information

Vanuatu Red Cross

Rue d’Auvergne

PO Box 618 Port Vila

Phone: (+678) 27418

Emergencies: 777 37 53

Fax: (+678) 22599

Email: redcross@vanuatu.com.vu 

Facebook

13 March:

— The VRCS has coordinated with the Vanuatu NDMO to mobilize VRCS volunteers through national radio broadcasts. The VRCS headquarters in Port Vila was closed for safety reason at midday 13 March prior to Pam’s landfall in Port Vila. The NDMO headquarters is being used as operational base during this period.  VCRS is co-lead of the logistics cluster and has been tasked with the provincial logistics cluster in Tafea Province.  VCRS is coordinating with Australian Red Cross and New Zealand Red Cross to provide relief supplies. (source)

Organizations offering help, rides, etc.

CARE 

World Vision

16 March:

 — All schools have been damaged or destroyed.  School supplies, temporary schools, and rebuilding materials and plans are needed. (source)

— Vanuatu Society for People with Disability Center was destroyed but all staff are safe. (source)

— Via UNOCHA Sitrep 1: Many of the evacuation centres have numerous women and young children sleeping in close quarters, so protection issues will be paramount in coming weeks.  (source)

Status of Nursing Homes, Orphanages, Schools, etc.

Port Vila has been badly damaged, so the kids have nowhere to go to school. http://bit.ly/1baaqXT 

Airports

Roads / Ports

Airport Status:

16 March:

–Port Vila airport has reopened with limited facilities. Planned flights for Monday 16 March are: NF11 Sydney – Vila DEP 0600 ARR 0920| NF10 Vila-Sydney DEP 1120 ARR 1515| NF 01 Sydney – Vila DEP 1615 ARR 2000| NF20 Vila – Brisbane DEP 2200 ARR 2345| All Timings local time. Check in 2 hours prior departure Tuesday flight schedules to be advised. VANUATU DOMESTIC FLIGHTS ARE SUSPENDED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE. (source)

— via UNOCHA – the Port Vila airport is now open for commercial flights. (source)

— Military flights are being allowed to land.

Airports and where to find information

• Linua Island (TOH)
• Torba (VU-TOB)
• Vanuatu (VU)

There are three international airports ranked in order of importance:

— Bauerfield International Airport. Main destinations: Dillon’s Bay, Emae, Ipota, Lamap, Lamen Bay, Lonorore, Luganville, Norsup, Paama, South West Bay, Tanna, Tongoa, Ulei, Valesdir,Auckland, Brisbane, Honiara, Nadi, Nouméa, Suva, Sydney.

— Santo-Pekoa International Airport. Main destinations: Brisbane, Craig Cove, Gaua, Longana, Port Vila, Sola, Walaha.

— Whitegrass International Airport: Anatom, Aniwa, Dillon’s Bay, Futuna, Ipota, Port Vila

Status of Highways/Roads 

16 Mar:  Teouma Bridge and Creek Ai bridge both gone, so ground transport cannot even get to Teouma or north Efate. (source) (source)

Maritime, Shipping, and Ports

Interactive Chart (map) of Vanuatu

Port Arrivals, Departures,Wind Forecast: (Click buttons for each feature after following link)

Port of Maewo 

Port of Vila

Port of Espiritu Santo

Power, Gas and Water

Maps/Situational Awareness Reports

Status Reports

16 March:

— Access to water and electricity is rapidly being restored in Port Vila. (source)

15 March:

— Via NDMO Sitrep 3 – As of Mar 14 – UNELCO have advised that the electricity is out everywhere.  There appears to be greater than 80% damage to power lines, and the power will not be fully restored for several weeks.

Companies & Contact Information

Unelco

Customer service number: 26 000

Malekula

Lakatoro

PO Box 19 Lakatoro

Phone/Fax: 48 415

Emergency: 77 44 323

Tanna

Lenakel

PO Box 899, Lenakel

Phone/Fax: 88 959

Emergency: 77 62 450

Maps:

— UNITAR/UNOSAT Satellite Map of damage on Tanna Island, 15 Mar 2015.

— Reliefweb Sitreps for Vanuatu

— Emergency Response Coordination Centre (ERCC), ECHO Daily Map, 17 Mar 2015.

— Location of Evacuation Centres, MapAction, 17 March 2015

— Map Real time Wind Surface Currents

— Digital  Maps: Digital-Cyclone.org

— Vanuatu Met Current Bulletins and Warnings

— Humanitarian Response.info Maps

Mapping Efforts
Hot-OSM  Help map Vanuatu

Mapaction has deployed a team

Situation Reports:

18 March

— UNOCHA Situation Report No. 4. 18 Mar 2015

17 March:

— UNOCHA Situation Report No. 3, 17 Mar 2015

— United Nations in Geneva Press Briefing on Vanuatu

16 March:

— UNOCHA Situation Report No. 2, 16 Mar 2015

— Red Cross Emergency Plan of Action Operation Update (download)

15 March:

— Emergency Telecommunications Cluster (ETC) Situation Report #01

— UNOCHA Situation Report No. 1, 15 Mar 2015

14 March:

— UNICEF Pacific Situation Report #1

— 10:00pm:  North Pentecost Update: Gardens were badly damaged, thatched roof houses blown away. Mauna Health Centre reports 5 casualties. Two admitted. (source)

— UN OCHA Flash Update– Mar 14 44 unconfirmed deaths on Penama Province. Estimates hardest hit islands are Maewo (population 3,569), Ambae (population 10,407) and Pentecost (population 16,843)

— 350 Pacific Overnight Update

13 March:

— IFRC Bulletin 13 Mar: International Federation of the Red Cross

Twitter

FaceBook

Hashtags: As of Mar 14 7:00am Vanuatu time – This event includes tweets across multiple countries and many islands, towns and villages – with no evidence of common hashtags in use by any general population. There are location mentions, event mentions, variations of event names and variations of location names. This is complicating data mining efforts. Highlights on Hashtags:

Major Hashtags #TCPam, #Pam, #CyclonePam, #Vanuatu, #PortVila #WithVanuatu

Micro Hashtags (Locations) Lakatoro, Luganville, Malampa, Malakula, Ambrym, Paama, Penama, Pentecost, Ambae, Isangel, Maewo, Pénama, Port Vila, Sanma, New Caledonia, Torba, Tafea, Torres Islands, Banks Islands, Efate,

Noisy Hashtags (unrelated tweets in stream) Malo, Santo,

Silent Hashtags (no mentions in the stream) Gaua, Kwakea, Merelava, Merig, Mota, Motalava, Ureparapara, Vanua Lava, Hiw, Linua, Metoma, Tegua

Twitter Accounts of Interest

@RAPacificBeat

@FijiGov_RMDNDM

@aureliabalpe

@PacIsLiving

@UNOCHA_ROP

@UNICEFPacific

@UNICEFNZ

@CAREAustralia

@Hal_Needham

@unisdr

‏@apluspacific

‏@Colincvr

@jsovick

@niuslady

@ABCNews24

@L3xyphoto

@pascal_alick

@jaksilmaestro 

@WSBTheatre

@radionz

@HaliteshFijiTV

@FijiOneNews

@350Pacific

@VanuatuHumans

@ShelterCluster

@RNZInews

@radioaustralia
@raetlomi

Facebook Accounts of Interest

Vanuatu Red Cross

Humans of Vanuatu

Pacific Island Living

Fijian Government 

Impact Vanuatu

Digicel Vanuatu

Telsat Broadband

350 Pacific

350 Vanuatu

Give to Vanuatu

Vanuatu Cyclone Pam 2015

Vanuatu Cyclone Pam 2015 Find My Family

Telecoms Sans Frontieres

Pictures and Videos

Vanuatu Live Cams

17 March 2015

Drone footage – cyclone damage

Photo – school in Freshwota being used as an evacuation centre

Photo collection – from the Guardian

16 March 2015

Video – Water tank collapse

Photo – Tanna Airport
Photo – crushed car
Photo – huge uprooted tree

Photo – damage to Vanuatu Society for People with Disability Center

Photo – downed tree in front of Australian High Commission

Photo – destroyed ferry shelter.

15 March 2015 

Photo – destroyed bridge, only one from north Efate to Port Vila.

Photos – via Facebook Group   
Photo – aerial photo from Efate.
Video – damage / interviews in Port Vila:
Photos – hospital damage in Port Vila
Video – devastation in Mele Village
Photo – damage to Teouma bridge restricting access to the most affected areas of Efate.

15 March 2015

Photos of damage in Vanuatu via Guardian UK

Photo of destroyed house in Port Vila

Photos of Holiday Inn

Photos of damaged CARE office

14 March 2015

Photo of NDMO office
Video of damage in Vanuatu
Photo of damage from Save the Children
Photos from Unicef Pacific
Photo – downtown Port Vila
Photo – BP Wharf

Slide show preparing for TCPam

Status by Provinces

Torba Province – Capital Sola, Banks & Torres, Population 7,757

• 16 Mar, 11:30am: News just in from our volunteer in Sola via relay to volunteer in Hui – extensive damage to crops, food security issues in next 2 weeks. (source)
• 16 Mar, 11:30am: Red Cross has begun assessments on Banks Island and is working with the government to arrange boats as soon as possible to deliver relief supplies. (source)
• 14 Mar 5:40am very little updates found in social media
• 14 mar 5:40am  Loh/Linua Island, Torba, Vanuatu Airport- (Great Circle Mapper)

Penama Province – Capital Loltong, includes Pentecost Island, Ambae & Maéwo Capital Longana

Remote villages made of leaves and other flimsy materials are vulnerable (Map)

• 16 Mar: Pentecost Island, Penama Province – Facebook conversation continuing – No records of deaths.  No news of beautiful Laone yet and even central Pentecost. Poor network visibility. (source)
• 14 Mar, 10:00pm: North Pentecost Update: Gardens were badly damaged, thatched roof houses blown away. Mauna Health Centre reports 5 casualties. Two admitted. (source)

Sanma Province, Capital Luganville, includes Santo and Malo
             – 13 Mar, 3:00pm: Conditions in Luganville (source)
– 13 Mar, 3:00pm: Conditions in Luganville (source) (same video, different source).

Malampa Province – Ambrym, Capital Eas, Malakula, Capital Lakatoro, Paama, Capital Liro 

• 17 Mar: Ambrym has widespread damage in the southeast of the island. Nearby Paama was also badly hit. (source)
  – 13 March, 6:00 pm: Communications tower on Ambrym island has fallen down. There seem to have been fatalities, but of course it’s impossible to confirm (source)

Shefa Province – Éfaté, Capital Port Vila and Shepherd Islands and its Capital  Morua, and New Hebrides 

• Tongoa Island, in Shepherd Islands (coordinates for airport -16.891100,168.550995)
• 17 Mar: In Tongoa – a small island that has about 3,000 people – 95% of homes are estimated to have been destroyed (unconfirmed). (source) (source)
• Moso Island, in Shepherd Islands (coordinates: -17.533300,168.250000)
• 18 Mar: Report regarding villagers drinking saltwater needs to be verified.  There is an argument on Facebook by locals saying the information may be false – Islands in Vanuatu are largely porous limestone. The rain leeches down into the stone and exits at the shore.  It is not only common but also very safe to dig into the beach and tap these springs for drinking water. (source)  It is also possible, however, the fresh water supply has been contaminated.
• 17 Mar: Villagers in the community of Taseriki have received no help, and many houses are flattened.  There are no shops, people grow their own food, and their crops have been destroyed.  Children are going hungry, and they are having to scavenge for food.  People are drinking saltwater (source)
• Nguna Island (coordinates: -17.433300,168.350006), 13 villages, population 1,300.
• 17 Mar: No contact, no communications.  It is likely houses were destroyed, and there are needs. (source)
• Epi Island (coordinates: -16.716700,168.250000)
• 16 Mar: via FB flyover of Epi island indicates Epi Guesthouse appears ok (Source)
• Emau (Emao) Island (coordinates -17.483299,168.483002)
• 17 March:  Anyone looking for information for EMAU — I have been able to reach one person in Mangarongo Village. As far as she knew, they are all alive! There is phenomenal damage — loss of houses, food, clean water. All of Marou Village has moved up to Mangarongo School. People in Mangarongo are sleeping in the church. Not sure about the rest of the island, but as far as she knew, everyone is alive.

• Taunono Village (coordinates: -16.376684,167.562500), population about 200.
• 17 Mar: Via UNICEF visit to Village Chief Narua Joe Kwane – Village is outside Port Vila.  All houses are damaged or destroyed.  Everyone is sleeping outside. They have received no food or water and are scavenging for coconuts.  All the fruit trees are gone.  They owned a small Nakamal (a traditional gathering area) where local men used to come to drink cava. It was their main source of income but now it’s all gone. (source)

• Port Vila
• 16 Mar: Via UNOCHA Sitrep 1 – Although Port Vila’s water supply is back online in at least some areas, there are concerns for non-reticulated areas, as well as for the safety of drinking water. The provision of WASH services in the more than 25 evacuation areas is urgent, as is the assessment of WASH needs in rural areas in all affected provinces. (source)

Taféa Province,  Capital  Isangel Province Taféa Population 29,047

17 March:

• Aneityum and Mystery Island – Location 20°11′18″S 169°49′34″E Population 915
  NDMO staff have visited Aneityum and Mystery Island; they look ok. Communications Towers are still up but they can’t get communications through due to the tower on Tanna being broken.  source link referred to us via UNOCHA

• Tanna Island (also Tana) – Location -19.5, 169.333333 – Population  29,047

17 March:

• 9:55pm via DFAT Vanuatu (excerpts)
• Dillons Bay Airport (184610S 1691005E) T0010z, road leading to airport is blocked by broken trees and debris but is clearable, 1 x white building with red roof at the end of the runway, no damage observed. Hut near white building is damaged, water tank observed was intact, runway clear, airport terminal clear.
• Village of Unpongkor (184859S 1690054E) 70% destroyed
• Village of Happy Land (185358S 1690338E), 80% destroyed
• Village of Unoroh (185619S 1691026E) 80% destroyed
• Village of Yasauwi (185817S 1691415E) 80% destroyed
• Ipota Airport (185123S 1691705E) 70% of adjacent buildings destroyed, runway is clear, 20 x pax observed, roads on ridge line are blocked, remainder of roads clear
• Village of Ifo (185452S 1692009E) 50% destroyed, some repairs appear in progress.
• Village in position (185021S 1691452E), 90% destroyed.
• Village  of Potnarvin (184452S 1691231E) 80% destroyed
• Village in position (183950S 1690924E) 100% destroyed, 10 x pax observed, no approach roads observed.
• Village in position (183758S 1690506E) 50% destroyed
• 8:00pm via Oxfam Vanuatu – there is a possibility that a ferry will be leaving Port Vila for Tanna on 18 March with supplies. (source)
• 4:00pm – via Oxfam Australia – Assessment teams were sent to Tanna & Erromango islands and are due back to Port Vila within 24 hours to report back on what survivors need.  Some of the medical personnel in assessment teams sent to Tanna & Erromango islands will stay until more help arrives. (source) (source)
• 3:30am via ABC News – Photo of Tanna airport source 
• 3:00am Tanna is in desperate need of food, drinking water, and medical care.  Air Taxi Vanuatu (contact info) flew World Vision and NGOs to Tanna Mar 16 and reports urgent children injured and only one doctor for 30,000 people.  Air Taxi offering to carry 6-7 people and/or supplies (source) (source).

16 March:

• 8:00pm Digicel working on restoring cellular communications on Tanna (source)

• 7:30pm Care Australia – initial report from our staff now on Tanna that damage ‘significantly worse than Port Vila’. Shelter & water critical needs. (source)

15 March:

• A pilot who flew to Tanna and was able to make an initial assessment reported that all corrugated iron structures were destroyed, the concrete structures had lost roofs, and all the trees had been ripped out.  There is no drinking water, and there were two reported deaths (though this is unconfirmed.) (source)

• Erromango Island – Location -18.813889, 169.122778 – Population 1,959,

16 March:

• 1:00am via Humanity Road – Erromango seriously damaged, relief supplies needed (source)

• Aniwa Island, Tafea Chain (-19.234444, 169.600556) – population 341  
• 17 Mar: in Tafea chain with villages Imalé, Isavaï, Ikaokao, Namsafoura,  In the north part of there is the Aniwa Airport  (IATA: AWD, ICAO: NVVB) that is connected to Dillon’s Bay, Futuna, Ipota, Tanna. Air Vanuatu is the only airline connecting the local airport. Aniwa Ocean View Bungalows is the only tourist resort in the island and it is located in the south .Their FaceBook page is not updated since 2013 but here you can find the contact addresses of the owners. The island is also home to B&B tel +678 561 6506 http://www.aniwaoceanview.com ,  aniwaoceanviewbungalows@gmail.com

Animals in Disaster

Relief & Agencies Responding

Animal Shelters / Rescues/ Veterinarians

Vets Beyond Borders 

Vet Clinic Port Vila  Phone: (678) 25702

Other Relief Information:

World Animal Protection has deployed a disaster response team and will immediately begin helping animals. Their work will complement humanitarian relief by protecting people’s friends, and often their main source of livelihood.  In Port Vila we anticipate pets will need vet care, shelter and emergency feed. In more rural areas, we know that most farms would not be equipped for a disaster of this magnitude so, working with local vets and agriculture officials, we will go where the animal needs are greatest and focus our relief efforts there.(source)                                          

Where to Donate, Needs, Volunteering

Give to Vanuatu (information on where to take donations in Australia)

Vanuatu Cyclone Pam 2015 (Facebook page – share information about needs and offer help).

Vanuatu Cyclone Pam website (how to volunteer, places to donate, equipment needs, family locator, etc.)

Agencies Providing Relief and Recovery Work are listed on our 3W report

Volunteers Reporting

Alice, Anne, Cat, Chris, Gijs, Joshua, Allyson, John, Alberto, Robert, Judith, Gerald, Cindy, Heidi, Sarah, Christoph, Laurel