Two cyclones in March affected more than 271,000 people. Donations will help communities repair and upgrade facilities.

Andrew and Anna were at home with their children when Cyclone Judy struck Vanuatu on 1 March. As soon as the first piece of roofing iron went flying, they fled to a small cave nearby. When a second category 4 cyclone swept through two days later, they had already accepted a ride from the Vanuatu Mobile Force to an Evacuation Centre run by the Vanuatu Christian Council (VCC).

Almost a month later the family was still at the Evacuation Centre. Thanks to new iron supplied by VCC, Andrew has begun to rebuild their home destroyed in the twin cyclones.

“We should have returned to our homes [by now] but it’s a real mess. We don’t have anywhere safe to shelter. I didn’t think that our homes would fall down. When I came back after the cyclones, I saw that everything had been destroyed,” said Anna.

The twin cyclones affected more than 271,000 people.

Disaster preparedness is one of the priorities of the VCC. It has trained local people to make disaster plans for their communities to deal with intense disasters linked to climate change.

The National Disaster Management Office run by the government has allocated 18 communities in the areas of North Efate, Pele and Nguna for help from VCC. Christian World Service is appealing for donations so families like Andrew’s and Anna’s can start again.

“Ni-Vanuatu need practical help and our prayers as they recover from this double disaster. Families have lost their homes and livelihoods, sometimes for the second time in three years. If you can, please support our appeal so they can replant their gardens and look after each other,” says Murray Overton, National Director.

Donations will help communities repair and upgrade latrines and share hygiene information. Local committees will distribute new seeds and tools to re-establish gardens, community seed banks and nurseries. Work will also be done to raise awareness on child protection and the prevention of gender-based violence especially after a disaster when people are more vulnerable. The Appeal will fund psychosocial support for people struggling to deal with their losses, and help communities prepare for the next disaster.

Donations to the Vanuatu Cyclone Appeal can be made online at cws.org.nz or phone 0800 74 73 72.