03.03.2011 - FRANZ partners response to the Vanuatu’s National Disaster Committee request for assistance

FRANZ partners have responded quickly in a coordinated manner to the request for assistance that the Vanuatu’s National Disaster Committee sent to them on the 24th of February to help people of the province of TAFEA victims of Tropical Cyclones Vania and Atu.

FRANZ involvement, directly or in collaboration with UNICEF, OCHA and the Red Cross, included a combination of food, seeds, jerry cans, sanitation, provision of emergency relief and areal transportation to help people of TAFEA to recover their livelihoods.

In particular :

 France set up an airlift (from the French Army Forces) by flying between Noumea, Tanna and Port Vila, to charter humanitarian aid offered by New Caledonia (3 tons of rice and vegetable seeds to kick-start crops damaged by Tropical cyclone Vania) and jerry cans for Red Cross. Furthermore, France deployed a helicopter on a mission on the islands of Futuna and Anatom as these islands remained unreachable by normal means of communication (telephone and radio). The cost of the French operations was above 100000 € (equivalent of Vt 12.5m).

 Australia provided AUD $20,000 (equivalent to about Vt 1.8m) to UNICEF for replenishment of emergency water and sanitation supplies which have been distributed to cyclone affected communities, and has agreed that the existing school grants program for primary schools funded by Government of Vanuatu, Australia, New Zealand and UNICEF can used to carry our school repairs and replace materials damaged as a result of Cyclone Vania. Furthermore, Australia provided AUD $200,000 (approx. Vt19 million) to the Vanuatu Broadcasting & Television Corporation (VBTC) for 5 back-up generators to ensure that the power failure that prevented Radio Vanuatu’s transmission during Cyclone Vania will no longer be an issue for future emergencies.

 New Zealand is providing a grant of $50,000 (equivalent to about Vt 3.5m) for the repair of water supply systems in TAFEA Province. This will be managed by ADRA Vanuatu, working with the provincial government and the local communities.