As calm skies begin to reveal the disastrous extent of Cyclone Pam’s path across Vanuatu, the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) is providing vital supplies to those affected.

It expected to have affected more than 50% of the country’s population or more than 125,000 people.

“Communication between the islands is still down,” reports Mark le Roux, country director for the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) in Vanuatu. “We still don’t have a good picture of the cyclones impact on many of the islands.”

On Efate, which houses the capital of Port Vila more than 3,000 people are already sheltering in evacuation centres. A figure which is expected to rise dramatically in the coming days.

Early assessments indicate that these centres are critically under-resourced – 80% have no access to hand-washing facilities and a single toilet is servicing an average of 105 people. In the worst case it rises to one toilet for more than 390 people.

“Ensuring good hygiene is critical following a disaster like this,” said Mr le Roux. “Disease can spread quickly and with health services already stretched the situation can turn deadly.”

ADRA will play a key role in securing the health and sanitation of evacuation centres on Efate, while also continuing to assess the needs of those on other islands as they are revealed.

“We have supplies prepositioned in three warehouses across Vanuatu,” said Mr le Roux. “Because of this we can act quickly despite the challenging logistics.”

A regional Emergency Response Team, comprised of ADRA staff from offices around South Pacific has been mobilised to provide additional support for ADRA’s ongoing activities.

ADRA Australia is a Christian aid and humanitarian agency that empowers communities and changes lives in Australia, the Pacific, Asia and Africa. It is a member of the Australian Council for Social Services and a member of the Australian Council for International Development.

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