Australian emergency workers are heading to Vanuatu as the country battles through the aftermath of its second destructive cyclone in just days.
A state of emergency has been declared in the aftermath of Cyclone Kevin’s gale-force winds and torrential rain causing chaos just days after the nation was hit by Cyclone Judy.
Miraculously, no deaths
There are no reports of people being killed but buildings have been damaged, infrastructure impacted by flooding and there are significant power outages.
Vanuatu is made up of 13 principal islands and a red alert has been issued for Tafea province, home to about 30,000 people in the country’s south.
Vanuatu 🇻🇺 a carbon negative country that contributes little to global carbon emissions, and a leading climate champion with one of the most ambitious NDCs, has had to suffer the consequences of the climate crisis, experiencing two Tropical Cyclones in a week. 🌀 #Injustice pic.twitter.com/liZILEUve0
— Lavetanalagi Seru (@lagiseru) March 4, 2023
It’s estimated up to 50,000 children could have been impacted by the natural disasters, according to the United Nations Children’s Fund.
The charity says schools, health facilities, homes and critical infrastructure have been damaged.
World Vision Australia says hundreds of people are in emergency accommodation in the capital Port Villa and tens of thousands have been impacted by the wild weather.
Australians on the job
The organisation’s workers there have created an operational centre and are distributing supplies while patching up their office.
Conditions are expected to ease by Sunday as Cyclone Kevin moves south.
Australia is sending a team of twelve workers with emergency supplies and the Royal Australian Air Force will assist with aerial damage assessments.
“The Australian Defence Force as a part of the whole-of-government effort is coordinating closely with the Pacific family to provide the best support possible to the Ni-Vanuatu people,” Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles said on Friday.
-AAP
