Anglican Region of Port Vila& New Caledonia Diocese of Vanuatu & New Caledonia

Church of the Resurrection, Tagabe 31st March 2015 P O Box 1031, Port Vila, Republic of Vanuatu

Tel: +678 5341769 – Senior Priest: Revd. J P Bani : +678 7773925-Regional Secretary/Office E-mail:pvncanglican.region@outlook.com

PVNC Regional Disaster Committee Report on TC Pam Assessments conducted on 18- 25 March 2015

Introduction Tropical Cyclone Pam passed over Vanuatu on 7-14 March 2015, having formed in Southern Solomon Islands then travelling along the Vanuatu chain in a South/South Easterly direction. The center of the cyclone passed 15 km east of Shefa province on Friday 13thMarch and headed directly over Tafea province the following day. Therefore, in Shefa &Tafea provinces we have experienced extensive destruction of homes, food

gardens; forests and general infrastructure (see pics attached).

Damage relief Assessments

A. The Committee

The PVNC Disaster Relief Assessment Committee was formed on Tuesday 17th March following phone

communications with the ACoM General Secretary Dr. Abraham Hauriasi on Monday 16 th March 2015. The PVNC DRAC was formed to undertake an assessment of the damage affecting members of the Anglican Church in Shefa &Tafea province. [Note: At that time telecommunications with ACoM Vanuatu office/DOCVNC Office were not available]. We have access to accurate information supplied by the NDMO and partner governments who have undertaken aerial damage assessments since day 1. The Vanuatu Government had activated theirs via the National Disaster Management Office, coordinating most of the relief efforts contributed by our overseas partners and friends. The PVNC Disaster Relief Assessment Committee comprises:

1. Fr. John P Bani/Senior Priest……………………..Chairman

2. Selwyn Leodoro/Regional Secretary………….Coordinator

3. Fr. Dunstan Butu……………………………………….Member 4. Mrs. Carol Arugi………………………………………..Member 5. Mr. Humphrey Tamata………………………………Member 6. Mr. John Mark Hango………………………………..Member 7. Fr. Michael Tavoa………………………………………Member

B. Assessments

The Committee commenced damage assessments with Anglican members on Wednesday 18 th March 2015, carried out by teams of Youth volunteers visiting Households starting at Tagabe Mission, side

river, Switi, Black sands area and Bladiniere Estates. Then, gradually moving out to areas under the Parish of Fresh Water, Teouma and the Sub Parish of Paunangisu. Assessments for the members of

Seaside Parish were carried out by Mr. Fe’iloakitau Tevi, assisted by Fr. Dunstan Butu& Seaside Youth volunteers (see attached).

Our Assessments have covered most of Port Vila area, and parts of rural Efate, especially of Anglican members whose households are known to the teams. The exercise was made possible by the generous

contribution of transport and food by Fr. Charles and Veve Rosalie Vatu. The parish of Tagabe also contributed VT.3,000 and Mr. Leodoro VT.1,000 for fuel costs to use the ACoM car.

We have used only pages 4 & 5 of the NDMO komiuniti Assessment forms.

Attached is a sample for information. All the completed Assessment forms are kept in the PVNC Regional Office; only a summary is shared

below. Even the last entry #24 [Eratap, Teouma, Paunangisu, N#.2 Lagoon, Erakor bridge, Ohlen & Switi] is summarized only in numbers, due to the limited time available for the completion of the exercise.

C. Summary of Assessments

The Summary of Assessments is attached for information for our partners, friends and anyone who

may be interested in contributing to our rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts. It is also a partial Census of Anglican membership within the PVNC Region.

RECOMMENDATIONS The Vanuatu Government, friends and Aid partners are concentrating their relief efforts on the immediate needs of Food, Sanitation, Medical supplies and temporary shelters (Tarpaulins), but not so much on the longer term objective of Reconstruction of homes which have been destroyed by TC Pam. Members of the Vanuatu Provident Fund have been allowed to withdraw 20% of their funds to assist with the reconstruction of homes and the local Banks are promoting soft Loans to clients for the same purpose. Furthermore, the VANGOV has imposed VAT exemptions on building materials to assist in

reconstruction of homes.

However, the above measures may not be enough incentive for the Ni Vanuatu, bearing in mind that most of the victims are unemployed and live in the rural areas. Their ability to rebuild is therefore limited and they will need special assistance to rebuild their homes. It is envisaged that the cyclone seasons would be increasingly active in the coming years. The likely increase in the severity and frequency of category 5 cyclones would place greater importance in the

preparation of the communities and the church structures to handle natural disasters of any magnitude.

Resilient communities, resilient church infrastructures and capacitated human resources of the church to handle disasters through all its phases will need to become a top priority for the church over the next 6-18 months.

A clear marked added value of the involvement of Faith Based Organizations such as ACoM in the periods before a disaster and from approximately 5-7 weeks after the disaster is based on the longer term presence of the church on the ground as compared to humanitarian and disaster relief agencies that fly in and are out of the disaster zone within 2 weeks to a month of the disaster. The PVNC Disaster Relief Committee therefore recommends:

1. That the Anglican Church along with our friends and partners should concentrate ou r efforts on

providing building materials to our members to enable them to rebuild their homes, as follows:

(a). Corrugated iron roofing X 4/5 meter lengths (b). Construction timber of all shapes, sizes and lengths

(c). Cement (d). any other material that can be donated.

2. If and where possible, that the Church network is called upon to airfreight in green vegetables and root crops as an immediate relief as these are parts of the staple diet that Pacific Islanders

are acquainted with.

3. That the Anglican Church review and upgrade our disaster preparedness, awareness and resilience strategies for future disasters based on the models and experiences of TC Pam.

4. That the Anglican Church prepares for any future disasters by building safe Houses or Cyclone

proof shelters in or near all our Parishes within the Province of Melanesia.

5. That the following items be prioritized in future contacts with the partners : a. Tents b. Building tools c. Water purifiers d. Roofing iron

e. Tarpaulin f. Seeds

g. Rice h. Noodles i. Tinned food j. Nails k. Bush knives l. Saws m. Iron beams n. Water tanks o. Generators

6. That containers that are to be used for shipping will then be recycled into stockpiling facilities for future disasters

7. That the Anglican Church should stock emergency supplies, preferably in a container located close by to any evacuation shelters. All necessary items should be stocked, including generators, chain saws, medical kits, solar panels, radios, beddings, food items, rain coats & safety clothing, etc.,

8. That the Anglican Province of Melanesia should actively prepare our members in disaster Risk Reduction strategies in order to save more lives during any disaster.

9. That all Clergy and Lay staff of the ACoM be up-skilled in Disaster Risk Reduction strategies as a

measure to enhance our preparedness during times of disaster.

10. That clear strategic emphasis is placed into linking ACoM with disaster relief agencies to enable and train ACoM leaders in disaster risk reduction programmes with a view to building a cadre of ACoM trainers who are then tasked in training the rest of the parishes of ACoM.

Selwyn Leodoro

Regional Secretary

Church of the Resurrection doors & some louvers were smashed.

Chief Henry & Fanny Manlaewia.

Mango tree at Chief Henry Manlaewia residence, Paunangisu Sub Parish.

Anglican members residence destroyed at Erakor half rod.

Paunangisu Sub Parish

No vegetation left at North Efate where heavy seas damaged beaches and the Efate Ring road.

PM Joe Natuman, Mayor Sumtoh & Minister James Bule launched the Govt’s relief supplies at the Resurrection Parish on Sunday afternoon 22 March 2015.