UN agencies ramp up support to cyclone-hit Vanuatu
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E-mail China.org.cn, March 16, 2015
Amid reports that powerful Cyclone Pam has impacted at least half the population of Vanuatu, the country's President, attending a United Nations conference under way in Japan aiming to reduce disaster risk, appealed for international support in anticipation of large-scale needs.
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A child looks through a doorway as Cyclone Pam hits Vanuatu, March 2015. [Photo/UNICEF Pacific] |
"Vanuatu is used to disasters but the indications are that Cyclone Pam has caused unprecedented damages," said President Baldwin Lonsdale in a press release issued on his behalf by the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR).
The leader of the island nation noted that following a direct hit from the Category 5 storm on Friday, at least two deaths have been confirmed and over 30 injured people are being treated in the Central Hospital in the capital, Port Vila where many people are now homeless and torrential rain has led to severe flooding. He also said bridges which link the capital with the rest of the island have been destroyed.
Mr. Lonsdale made his appeal from Sendai, Japan, where he has been attending since Sunday the Third UN World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction. The Conference has drawn thousands of Government and civil society delegations to craft a new framework for managing disaster risk which will reduce mortality and curb economic losses.
In opening remarks to the Conference over the weekend, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon noted that while the impact and scope of the disaster in Vanuatu is not yet clear, he feared the damage and destruction could be widespread.
Mr. Lonsdale reported through UNISDR that Vanuatu's National Disaster Management Office is coordinating an aerial survey today of the affected areas the Government would then have a better idea of what has happened in the outlying islands.
"We are particularly concerned about the province of Tafea. However, I can say from past experience that there will be severe damage to schools, health facilities, roads and public utilities," he said, adding that there will also be significant humanitarian needs as large numbers of people have lost their homes in the capital Port Vila.
"This is a major calamity for our country. Every year we lose 6 per cent our GDP (gross domestic product) to disasters. Calling the cyclone "a huge setback" for the country's development, Mr. Lonsdale added that it would also have severe impacts for all sectors of economic activity including tourism, agriculture and manufacturing.
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