Transcript
SHADRACK WELEGTABIT: We've been beginning to get reports. We have three reports coming from the northern islands. There are damages to people's houses and also damages to crops, so the preliminary report that we are getting from the outer islands and now we are doing a proper assessment, going out not only to the islands in the Torba province, but also doing something for Sanma. We are also deploying first phase response today. We are putting relief supplies to Torres especially in terms of wash items to those affected islands.
SELA JANE AHOLELEI: What's the demand there in Vanuatu in terms of aid? Is water still a priority for the people?
SHADRACK: Well for water, we are getting information that there are confirmation to water sources. We are sending out a proper water assessment team to start the investigation of the situation and then come up with a proper response for us to see how we would respond to the type of needs.
SJA: And to this day, have there been any more reports from people being injured from the strong gale winds this week?
SHADRACK: We are not aware of anyone having any injuries, so we are not aware of anything.
SJA: That's good to hear. Just with the families that have had to spend some nights, some days in caves during the week, have they been seen to?
SHADRACK: Well we have been given an all clear, so those people should return back to their homes and start rebuilding and stuff like that, so once the NDMO give the signal for people to start returning to their homes and start the process of rebuilding and see what they find in terms of what they need for building, but also look at their food crops and stuff like that.
SJA: Do you feel like there will be enough aid for everyone there in the northern island groups or is there still a call for more?
SHADRACK: Currently we are using what we already have in the country. We are using what we have now and based on the assessment, we might request additional assistance, but currently we are using what we already have in the country.
SJA: How do you feel from the National Disaster Management on how the locals there reacted to the Cyclone Donna warnings?
SHADRACK: We've been getting all means of communication to give help to all the people, so we've used the radio outlets and the two telecommunication companies sending out the SMS messages. I think we managed to get to almost all the people throughout the country in terms of saying what is happening and what they should be doing.
