AS families across Vanuatu continue to reel from the devastating impact of Category Five Cyclone Pam, Australian Defence Force helicopters are supporting CARE Australia’s efforts to get food, shelter and hygiene provisions to some of the most remote communities in Vanuatu.
Support from the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Australian Defence Force has seen CARE deliver hundreds of packages of urgent food, shelter and hygiene kits to the remote southern islands of Aniwa and Erramango. Desperately‐needed assistance is also being delivered to families on the small island of Futuna, home to around 500 people that have been cut off since Cyclone Pam devastated the island archipelago.
In addition to generous support from the Australian public, CARE Australia is a partner of the Humanitarian Partnership Agreement between the Australian Government and six of Australia’s leading international NGOs, who together respond rapidly to global disasters and build resilience to future crises.
CARE has received half a million dollars from the Australian Government as part of this agreement, and CARE is also partnering with emergency shelter organisation ShelterBox to provide temporary homes to hundreds of families across Vanuatu’s south.
“This a strong example of the collective efforts of Australians to support the most vulnerable in their time of desperate need,” said CARE Australia Emergency Specialist Stefan Knollmayer. “We’re grateful for the support of the Australian Government and ShelterBox to get urgent care packages to families in some of Vanuatu’s most remote communities.”
Over the coming weeks this support will continue to grow. CARE’s Stefan Knollmayer said women and girls were particularly at risk following an emergency of the scale of Cyclone Pam, and CARE’s work would continue to target the needs of those who are most vulnerable.
“Hygiene kits are designed to meet the specific needs of women and girls, and shelter kits will ensure those most vulnerable – such as children and the elderly – have a safe, secure roof above their heads,” said Mr Knollmayer.
“But we urgently need more support, as thousands of people are still living out in the open as a result of this terrifying disaster.”
Source: CARE Australia
Image Source: CARE Australia
Ryan Fritz
Ryan Fritz started The Advocate in 2014 to provide not-for-profits and charities another media platform to tell their worthwhile hard news stories and opinion pieces effortlessly. In 2020, Ryan formed a team of volunteer journalists to help spread even more high-quality stories from the third sector. He also has over 10 years experience as a media and communications professional for not-for-profits and charities and currently works at Redkite, a childhood cancer charity.
