Assessment teams in Vanuatu report on extent of Tropical Cyclone Pam damage

The last series of government-led initial rapid needs assessments in Vanuatu were completed on March 22, and reports indicate that an estimated 166,000 people across 22 islands have been affected by the impact of Tropical Cyclone Pam (UNOCHA). Evacuation shelters remain open in Efate, and current reports put the number of displaced people just over 3,300. Approximately 15,000 homes have been destroyed or damaged and an estimated 75,000 people are in need of temporary shelter.

As recovery operations continue, food security remains a top priority with all affected in need of food assistance. Reports from the Food and Agriculture Organizations of the United Nations (FAO) estimate that local staple food supplies will be exhausted by the end of March, but adds that fast-growing crops could be harvested by mid-June if replanting starts immediately (FAO). Water, sanitation, and hygiene needs have also emerged as priorities and a number of relief organizations are working to provide water treatment, trucking, and purification units to maintain access to clean drinking water and sanitation in order to reduce the risk of water-borne illnesses (NDMO).

PDC continues to provide important updates and information regarding the ongoing Tropical Cyclone Pam response and recovery operations, via the DisasterAWARE EMOPS (Emergency Operations) application. In further support of operations in Vanuatu, PDC has added new layers to the DisasterAWARE EMOPS (Emergency Operations) application, which depict the location and extents of assessed damages (see screenshot above), as well as the location of key infrastructure. Additional layers will be added as further assessments are completed and provided to PDC by partners in the field. If you are an emergency manager or humanitarian practitioner and would like access to these layers, as well as EMOPS please request access here.

• Look at the latest UNOCHA situation report, and
• Visit Relief web for additional sources and links.

Read earlier PDC stories about Tropical Cyclone Pam:
• Response Operations Underway Following Tropical Cyclone Pam
• Tropical Cyclone Pam Leaves Trail of Destruction in South Pacific
• South Pacific Islands Brace for Massive Tropical Cyclone Pam
• Powerful Tropical Cyclone Pam Nears South Pacific Islands