ShelterBox responds to Cyclone Hit Vanuatu

Disaster relief charity ShelterBox is poised to mobilise aid to help victims of Cyclone Pam in the South Pacific.

With winds of up to 170 mph, the cyclone has devastated the south Pacific archipelago of Vanuatu, a little over 1,000 miles north east of Australia.

There are already reports of eight known deaths, but aid agencies on the scene expect numbers of fatalities to run into dozens.

Unicef executive director Vivien Maidaborn in New Zealand has warned that: "Early reports are indicating that this weather disaster could potentially be one of the worst in Pacific history." Unicef spokeswoman Alice Clements described the cyclone as "15-30 minutes of absolute terror" as it passed over Vanuatu’s capital Port Vila.

The archipelago is made up of 82 islands, 65 of which are inhabited, and there are concerns for people in remote locations. Vanuatu's president Iolu Johnson Abil said he had a "heavy heart" and has appealed for aid.

Helston-based disaster relief agency ShelterBox, which provides portable emergency shelter and equipment for families displaced by natural catastrophes, has its people and aid poised to help.

ShelterBox operations co-coordinator Phil Duloy said: "We have contacted the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, the Vanuatu government, colleague charity CARE International, Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs, and the Adventist Development and Relief Agency International.

"All are aware of ShelterBox's capability and willingness to respond to any unmet shelter needs generated by the cyclone. ShelterBox stands ready to act quickly to deliver prepositioned emergency materials that we have available in the region."

Vanuatu’s airport is closed due to flooding, but public works are clearing the runways urgently. Roads remain blocked with debris, and power and communications lines are down.

Operations manager Alf Evans added: "ShelterBox response team members Ross Mackenzie from New Zealand and Peter Pearce from Australia are on standby to fly to Vanuatu as soon as the airport re-opens. ShelterBox aid already stockpiled in the region will be sent in as soon as import details can be sorted, and we have identified a need we can respond to as part of the wider effort."
ENDS

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