Cyclone Devastated Vanuatu Needs Urgent Aid – United Nations

UNITED NATIONS (Sputnik) — Urgent aid is needed for almost two thirds of the population of the island nation of Vanuatu, that have been affected by cyclone Pam, the United Nations humanitarian coordinator said Saturday.

According to UN data, cyclone Pam that hit the archipelago on March 14 killed at least 17 people and left 65,000 homeless. A total of 166,000 people, almost two thirds of Vanuatu's population, have been affected by the natural disaster.

The information on exact numbers of those in the urgent need of aid is still coming in from the country's most remote islands.

"I have been briefed by a UN assessment team that returned today from the islands of Ngona, Pele and Emau, three of the most remote northern islands. Water is a serious problem… Food stocks are limited… Several of the health centres and schools have been severely damaged," the UN's Humanitarian Coordinator for Vanuatu Osnat Lubrani said.

The UN said it expects to issue a consolidated aid appeal early next week for what it called a very challenging logistical operation.

"It is also going to be very expensive due to the costs of getting to remote islands and the damage caused to transport infrastructure," Lubrani said.

On Friday, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) called for emergency support for Vanuatu as the vast majority of crops, livestock and fisheries have been severely harmed by the cyclone.