PORT VILA, VANUATU— ADRA Vanuatu continues to support the response to Tropical Cyclone Pam by providing local communities in need with safety, food, and access to water.

On Friday, 130 water filtration kits were distributed to four locations in the northeast area of Efate, the main island of Vanuatu. The filtration kits convert contaminated water into clean drinking water and have been set up in schools and churches within the communities.

Six ADRA-supported evacuation centers were set-up with generators to increase the safety and security for the women and children, and to charge devices to assist with communication.

Since Saturday, ADRA Vanuatu volunteers have distributed 320 much needed supplementary food parcels, enough to sustain a family of five people for up to two weeks, to displaced people in the ADRA-supported evacuation centers.

Currently there are nine ADRA-supported evacuation centers across the island of Efate, supporting and providing more than 1,000 displaced people with shelter. ADRA Vanuatu Country Director, Mark le Roux, is grateful to all the volunteers, and the effective coordination with our partners who are helping ADRA with the response.

“Our volunteers are working hard to make sure the distribution of the food parcels happens quickly to those who need them most,” said le Roux. “To effectively respond to the needs of the people, we rely on strong partnerships; with our local community, our volunteers, across all the agencies involved, and coordinated through the National Disaster Management Office (NDMO)”.

“Coordination and cooperation is essential to ensure long-term, future planning for the people of Vanuatu,” he said.

At this point, all ADRA staff that had been missing has been accounted for.