The Category 5 cyclone left a wake of destruction as it passed over Kiribati, Solomon Islands, Tuvalu and Vanuatu, with nationwide states of emergency declared in the latter two countries.
“The full extent of the damage in Vanuatu is still being assessed but it is already clear that there has been widespread damage with many families having lost their homes, including some of our colleagues at the Vanuatu Football Federation,” Chung says.
“Our thoughts and prayers remain with all those people who have been affected by this devastating cyclone. We must now all unite to support Vanuatu and the wider Pacific community as the rebuilding phase begins.”
Eight people have been confirmed dead and 30 injured and hospitalised in the Vanuatu capital of Port Vila.
The majority of buildings have sustained some damage or have been totally destroyed.
Up to 150,000 people have been affected by the cyclone with 42,000 homes damaged and at least 15,000 of those left uninhabitable.
The concern in Vanuatu remains its outlying islands where the extent of the damage is yet to be assessed. Communication to a number of areas still hasn’t been re-established and aid agencies remain unable to distribute much needed supplies across the archipelago’s 80 islands.
Chung is currently coordinating a plan to identify how OFC can assist in the rebuilding of Vanuatu.

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