Guest post by Rebecca Ball, Red Cross blogger
Thousands of people have been affected after Cyclone Pam, a category 5 storm, made landfall in Port Vila, Vanuatu, on Friday, March 13. This was the strongest tropical storm to make landfall since Typhoon Haiyan struck the Philippines in November 2013.
As Red Cross teams assess the impact of the storm, it is evident that the destruction is extensive, leaving both homes and infrastructure damaged or destroyed. Shelter, water, food and first aid are all urgent priorities and the Red Cross continues to work closely with local authorities and others to support the government-led response.
Red Cross aid workers have been deployed to Vanuatu and surrounding regions to provide additional support in areas such as health, disaster management and communications.
The following images by Red Crosser Hanna Butler show a glimpse of the damage caused by Cyclone Pam and the impact on residents of Vanuatu:
The Canadian Red Cross has both trained emergency personnel and supplies on standby and ready to deploy in times of emergency.
Canadians wishing to support our efforts can make a financial donation to the Cyclone Pam Relief Fund online at www.redcross.ca, by calling 1-800-418-1111 or by contacting their local Canadian Red Cross office.
To read more about the storm, visit our website.
