Vanuatu Red Cross Society will continue its emergency response programme on South East Ambrym for the next three months.
As part of its first mission, a team comprised of staffs and volunteers from Disaster, Health and shelter sections spent 8 days on the ground to respond to communities affected by the earthquake that hit the island on 15 December, 2018.
The most affected village is Paamal that encountered numerous earthquakes, and uplift causing damage to houses in the village.
The VRCS team recruited and trained 24 volunteers who helped deliver awareness, conduct assessments and demonstrate how to build an emergency shelter.
The volunteers also helped distribute Non-Food items.
VRCS managed to assess 513 households with 2156 population in total in partnership with Malampa Provincial Government and the National Disaster Management Office and chiefs.
The emergency response of VRCS targeted prioritised affected communities of Paamal, Asse, Sameu, and Ulei by distributing 1 Shelter Tool Kit, 1 Hygiene kit, 2 Taps and 2 Jerry Canes (10L) to 321 Household each.
“Our emergency response is only for a period of 3 months, and we will provide more activities to all host and affected communities within that timeframe.
This mean that we will have other activities to be implemented on the ground such as early warnings, early actions, Disaster Risk Reduction, First aid training, hand washing, provide psycho social support to families, how to prepare an Oral rehydration solution, introduction of tippy taps, engaging villagers on a clean-up campaign, distribution dignity kits, also to build additional shelter” explained Disaster Management Coordinator Augustin Garae.
A second team of staff and volunteers from the main headquarter and Sanma Branch office will be deployed this week to continue with VRCS activities to communities on the island.
Photo supplied