The Vanuatu Red Cross Society has
mobilized over 100 staff and volunteers who are working relentlessly to
distribute aid and provide critical health care. A total of 40 volunteers are
in Port Vila working alongside the authorities to assist in 26 evacuation
centres. The National Society is working with the International Federation of
Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) as well as the Australian Red
Cross, French Red Cross and New Zealand Red Cross.
The New Zealand Red Cross supports
telecommunication programmes across the region, including Vanuatu. An IT and
telecommunications delegate has been deployed by the New Zealand Red Cross to
Vanuatu and is arriving later on Monday 16 March 2015. The delegate has
essential satellite communication equipment, including satellite phones and a
BGAN needs on the ground are massive
The IFRC has chartered an aircraft to
facilitate movement of supplies and human
resources from Port Villa to other
affected island.
A five-member Field Assessment and
Coordination Team (FACT) have been activated and some members are already on
way to Vanuatu. The team comprises a team leader and members with expertise in
shelter, emergency communications, information management and overall programme
design and coordination. The team will also be augmented by specialists
mobilized from the region, with expertise in sectors such as emergency health,
logistics, information technology and water and sanitation.
Aid workers were
particularly worried about the southern island of Tanna. An official with the
Australian Red Cross told Reuters an aircraft had managed to land there and aid
workers confirmed there was "widespread destruction".
The count of confirmed
deaths was at eight with 30 people injured. But those numbers were almost
certain to rise as rescuers reached the low-lying archipelago's outlying
islands.
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