CYCLONE PAM: Helping the people of Vanuatu following the destruction. Donate now!
On March 13, Cyclone Pam hit Vanuatu, destroying home, crops and contaminating water supplies. The Category Five cyclone was one of the worst to ever hit the region and has severely affected over half the nation’s population, with those living in rural areas particularly affected.Vanuatu has a population of 267,000 people spread over 65 inhabited islands. Limited communications, difficulty in reaching rural areas and damage to infrastructure, have all made assessing the extent of the damage and coordinating the relief efforts a slow and difficult process. However, NGOs have coordinated their efforts and there is a clear and urgent need for humanitarian assistance.
The unbelievable winds of 320 km/h have destroyed stores and harvests – famine is impending. Access to safe drinking water is also an immediate concern for many.
The devastation of Cyclone Pam in numbers:
– 75,000 people are in need of shelter
– 110,000 are without safe drinking water
– 65% of infrastructure destroyed
– 95% of crops destroyed
The Australian Association of the Order of Malta will be working with partners and agencies on the ground to ensure that assistance reaches those people in desperate need as soon as possible.
During this Holy Week please remember those who are suffering in Vanuatu and support our relief efforts there.
You can donate by:
– Direct Deposit: BSB: 012 003 Account#: 3796 09856 Name: Order of Malta. Please email remittance to accounts@orderofmalta.org.au
– By Post: Cheques payable to ‘The Order of Malta’ and sent to: Vanuatu Appeal, The Order of Malta, 33 – 37 West Street, Darlinghurst, NSW 2010
– Online: Through our Paypal donation facility
Donations $2 and more are of course tax deductible. Please give what you can.
Thank you for your support
