News
Annette Scullion
The devastation of Tropical Cyclone Pam in early March is one of Vanuatu’s worst-ever natural disasters, resulting in the loss of 16 lives and leaving thousands without clean water, adequate food or shelter. More than 65,000 people lost their homes, especially on Tanna and Erromango Islands where the cyclone passed closest to.
The storm’s impacts were felt across other Pacific Island countries, notably Tuvalu, Kiribati, and Solomon Islands.
In Vanuatu, Catholic Bishop of Port Vila, John Bosco Baremes SM, has been leading the response through his Diocesan Disaster Committee comprising local Catholic parishioners and organisations, and Caritas.
From the very beginning, Bishop John Bosco identified the key needs as being shelter, food, clean water, and protection of the poor and vulnerable. ‘So much has been blown away. People will need something to shelter in while they rebuild, an
‘Many gardens have been destroyed and it will be a while before people can rely on them again for food. But luckily things grow very quickly here, and some shops have opened again in Port Vila,’ he said.
Caritas’ Mark Mitchell from New Zealand and Stephanie Lalor from Australia have been working alongside the Disaster Committee to co-ordinate the running of evacuation centres and liaising with other lead aid agencies and the government. They have been planning to distribute 2000 tarpaulins for temporary shelters in Efate.
Response management has been going well and communication to the outer island is slowly being brought back, says Mark. ‘Before I arrived in Vanuatu people said, “We’re going to clean this up, remove the fallen trees and debris, and repair what we can – but we don’t have the tools.” So I organised to take two chainsaws on the NZ Air Force plane to Port Vila. With the chainsaws the Committee has been able to clear debris to get repairs underway. And that positive approach means communities in Vanuatu will recover.’
Crispin Anderlini
For over 40 years Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand has been the NZ Catholic Bishops’ agency for justice, peace and development. It is a member of Caritas Internationalis ‒ one of the largest humanitarian networks in the world.
Caritas’ work is inspired and guided by the Gospels and Catholic Social Teaching. It aims to make a difference to the lives of people living with poverty or injustice. Its approach is to form partnerships to develop programmes that sustain families and communities, provide education, advocate for change, and co-ordinate emergency relief.
Providing appropriate aid is particularly important in an emergency such as that in Vanuatu. Working with local partners helps to understand what people and communities need. Caritas works quickly alongside these partners to identify priorities before distributing what is needed through local church and community networks.
‘Two of our key principles are solidarity and subsidiarity,’ says New Zealand Caritas Director Julianne Hickey. ‘Decisions are best made by those closest to the situation, so we don’t go in and impose a way of doing things. In times of need we walk alongside through prayer, funding response activities, and practical on-the-ground support. We work closely with those most affected, liaise with other lead aid agencies and government to ensure efficiency.’
Co-ordination is a really important part of ensuring we help Bishop John Bosco Baremes SM in Port Vila. It’s not just immediate needs of food, shelter and water that are important but helping to ‘build-back-better’. The Diocesan Disaster Committee and Caritas have identified Vanuatu’s longer-terms needs are shelter, livelihoods (as food and crops were blown away), rain-water harvesting for clean-water supplies, and building-back community structures in a way that directly involves Vanuatu people.
Caritas is there for the long haul. The focus is on community participation to rebuild and particularly to support the poor, vulnerable and traumatised long after the media spotlight has moved on. Once there is a certain level of stability and immediate needs have been met, Caritas will help communities to rebuild and become more resilient in future emergencies.
‘Please keep Bishop John Bosco, his team, Caritas staff and all the people of Vanuatu in your prayers,’ says Julianne. ‘If you wish to donate you can do so through the Caritas Lenten Appeal or the emergency response fund. Your donations are part of our ongoing work and enable us to support communities rebuild, recover and rise again to create hope for the future.’
Visit www.caritas.org.nz/donate to give to the Pacific Cyclone Relief fund, or text Pam to 833 to donate $3 to Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand.
Crispin Anderlini is Communications, Marketing and Fundraising Adviser, Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand.