Relief teams from Australia landed in Vanuatu on Tuesday to help the thousands of dislocated victims of Cyclone Pam. Over 90 percent of homes and buildings in parts of Vanuatu have been destroyed in the 180 mph winds. Despite the heavy losses, the death toll of locals is counted at 11. Earlier the U.N. reported 24, but further reconnaissance and research shows that more survived.
Australia sent three planes on Tuesday filled with aid equipment and supplies to Vanuatu in addition to five planes already sent. Officials report that a French navy ship was being sent to help in the relief effort. The United States is preparing a U.S. Marine-Corps relief ship to be sent to Vanuatu.
The southern Vanuatu island of Tanna has suffered the brunt of the storm. Residents are worried about food and water shortages, which may occur soon. The staple diet of the citizens include crop from the island, but the storms have destroyed many of the stock. Many of the stores that normally provided food for the communities were destroyed in the storm. Stores that have canned food have their stock available for purchase in the capital, however the people of Vanuatu are too poor to purchase it. Locals have resorted to eating fruit on the ground that has not been destroyed by the storm. Health officials worry that this practice may lead to sickness.
The nation of Vanuatu relies heavily on crops and is one of the poorest nations in the world. Further, it is located in a region where earthquakes, storms, and volcanoes occur more frequently than in other parts of the world. Destroyed airstrips prevent further aid from reaching parts of Vanuatu, while most of the infrastructure such as telecommunication has been destroyed. Aid workers are currently trying to reach parts of the islands that are blocked off by wreckage. Thousands of individuals have been left without homes, but sturdy buildings suh as schoosl and churches provide shelter in the mean time.
