Vanuatu still needs major relief effort

CARITAS Australia and New Zealand are helping to lead a joint response to the devastation of Cyclone Pam in Vanuatu, as the Pacific island nation’s disaster chief said more than 166,000 people had been affected, 110,000 were without safe drinking water and more than 75,000 people needed emergency shelter, writes Mark Brolly.

The Diocese of Port Vila has established a committee to plan a coordinated response by Catholic agencies.

Jotham Napat, chairman of Vanuatu’s National Disaster Management Committee, told Radio Australia on Tuesday that his country would need £20m to respond to the crisis over the next three months.