CARE Australia is continuing to receive updates from colleagues in Port Vila, although communication remains intermittent as electricity is still down. Some team members still remain unaccounted for due to connectivity issues.

The team has confirmed there have been 14 deaths so far, however they expect this death toll to rise. There have been landslides downtown and this area is currently closed to the public. Port Vila’s ports and airport are currently closed, main hospital damaged, and some medical services have been moved to the main military base. Electricity and water are still down, and stocks of water are running out because people are buying water up. Fuel is also an issue and fuel lines have become very long.

The Vanuatu government has declared that the immediate needs in the aftermath of the disaster are for search and rescue, medical items and heavy machinery to help move debris.

CARE and other humanitarian partners have been asked by the Vanuatu government to be on standby.

We are assessing needs and are ready to provide water, sanitation and hygiene, and shelter to those affected when called upon. Recovery efforts are expected to take up to a year, with many years needed in the city centre.

ENDS

For media enquiries contact Briony FitzGerald on 0404 117 927

About CARE Australia

CARE Australia supports women around the globe to save lives, defeat poverty and achieve social justice. We work in partnership with local communities to provide equal opportunities for women that they have long been denied: the ability to earn an income, gain access to their fair share of resources, to lead and participate in decisions that affect their lives, and to be able to withstand the increasing impacts of climate disasters and other crises. www.care.org.au