Today there were some significant forward steps in the work of The Salvation Army as we respond to Cyclone Pam.
In three remote villages on the island of Tanna our team was able to facilitate the distribution of over 5 tonnes of food support on behalf of the World Food Program. We also were able to support the delivery of 9 tanks filled with desalinated water and fly in some water bottles that can be used to decant from the tanks and drink the water.
We moved a step closer to the development of a long term shelter program that will be undertaken in partnership with a local NGO "Liberty for the Nations", and touched base with Samaritan's Purse again, whom we hope to partner with in the fathest south area of Atamon. Three of our team will travel there tomorrow to conduct a final assessment and meet with salvationists in that remote place. It hosts the only other Salvation Army outpost apart from Port Vila.
While the work still feels quite ad hoc, we are building a good base for longer term responses and making good connections with all the different groups that are responding in the same areas that we are.
The team loses Gavin tomorrow, who has been instrumental in liaison with donors and our host territory (Australia Eastern) during this first week. We will miss him.
Personally, I'm finding it very quiet tonight. Gavin and Darren are being looked after by our donor at another site, Craig, Mike and Stephen have gone to Tanna and stayed overnight, leaving Damaris and I together in Port Vila... and she needed an early night. It's interesting to sit by myself and just look around the hotel. It was obviously in good condition and quite popular a few weeks ago. Now the doors don't lock properly, there's damage in most of the walls, the wharf, decking and lower outdoor eating area are destroyed... not at all the picture that it looks on its website.
It was good to receive an updated travel advice today and see that the Australian Government is again supporting travel to Vanuatu, especially the northern (far less affected) islands. Tourism accounts for 40% of income in the islands so it's critical to get that going again.
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