Vanuatu after Cyclone Pam? | The Family Without Borders

The Family Without Borders

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Vanuatu

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In „our“ Vanuatu – the worst cyclone EVER in the region

How is Vanuatu after Cyclone Pam?

This weekend we spend on reading the news from the Vanuatu – a little country on the South Pacific: houses, villages and islands of our friends have got completely devastated.

During last 3 days Cyclone Pam is crossing South Pacific. The wind up to 340 kilometres per hour is blowing like hell above the ocean and the 82 islands of far away Vanuatu.

Far away – for most of the people. After our last-year-trip, in our hearts it’s not far away at all. We met amazing people there, we lived with them, cooked together, sing and danced. They called us „their family“. And now „our families“ live their horror.

Cyclone Pam was stronger than anyone has expected. 90% of houses in Port Vila (the capital of the country) are destroyed. Cars, boats, ferries – too. And what about the other 80 islands? How to check what is going on there without mobile connection? Without internet? Without boats, which in normal conditions (when they do exist!) go there for 15 or 20 hours?! When will we get any news from them?

Atchin (Vanuatu, Malekula): School kids driving home
How will those kids get anywhere today…?

 

One might say: they anyway didn’t have much. Just a simple house, the food in the bushes and the fish in the ocean. And a big boat coming every Thursday with petrol, cans, medicines or parts for building anything. But what will happen now, when the trees and plants are down, boats are sank and will not arrive until somebody will fix them. And how to fix them without the parts, which cannot arrive? How to get to any doctor? How many people got hurt?

All the weekend long we were watching the pictures. – And how is Isabel?! – Mila asked with tears in her eyes. How is her Isabel? Who knows?!

Atchin (Vanuatu, Malekula): Love - Mila and Isabel
How is Isabel?

And still… how does it feel to be under the hurricane for two days without a break? When your house is down, when you have to shelter to go to? How to get clean water? How to get any food?

Watching the pictures from our time there starts to hurt. We feel sorry even for Port Vila, which we have never liked. We miss our everyday life there even more. We try not to think about all the kids from the island kindergarten, we spent so much time with.

And the strongest Cyclone Pam became just above the island, where we experienced the most of all from our travels: at Tanna island. Where the chief of the village gave to Tom his walking stick (the symbol of power) and showed us the ground for our house. Still not long ago we received a message from them that they are still waiting for us. We will be waiting for news from them now…

Lakaqai village, Middle Bush, Tanna (Vanuatu, South Pacific)
Where is home..?

 

Just fast check what can be done now: OXFAM Australia, UNICEF New Zealand and SAVE THE CHILDREN Australia  are collecting money and people for help. Do it!!!


Our first book is out!

We have published our first book (for now just in Polish:) about our Central America Trip.
See, read and order here »

4 Comments

  • Sarah
    Posted March 18, 2015 at 19:27 | Permalink

    Dear Anna,

    after hearing the news I had to think immediately to the stories and pictures on this website. Despite the sad context, it proves that traveling and sharing – both materials as stories – do matter. Thanks to your stories, this part of the world now has a face to me. Especially after this post, I also hope the very best for all your friends and their family.

    Reply
    • Anna Alboth
      Posted March 23, 2015 at 14:34 | Permalink

      Thank you Sarah for this comment, thanks a lot!

      Reply
  • Posted March 25, 2015 at 02:57 | Permalink

    Such a heartbreaking situation :( I sure hope you soon get some news of your loved ones. Your post has me teary thinking of all these beautiful people and what they are going through

    Reply
    • Anna Alboth
      Posted March 27, 2015 at 10:00 | Permalink

      Thank you!

      Reply

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