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We wander amidst what used to be a luxury resort.
The damaged pandanus leaf roofs look woeful and forlorn.
Someone has written the words
‘Pam cyclone’ beside the door.
It makes me smile.
The words Pam Cyclone visible on the building
Such is the tremendous spirit of the Vanuatu people.
They want you to make no mistake
the miserable, sorrowful sight is not neglect…
They want you to make no mistake
the miserable, sorrowful sight is not neglect…
Oh no, these two words of explanation
‘Pam cyclone’ yell proudly
‘This is not our norm, nor our reality’…
It’s sad, but not somehow not depressing.
A massive clean-up operation is underway,
the sound of chainsaws in action rings out across the islands,
and the tourists are slowly coming back.
It’s sad, but not somehow not depressing.
A massive clean-up operation is underway,
the sound of chainsaws in action rings out across the islands,
and the tourists are slowly coming back.
Next door at Brekkas Resort, it appears business as usual
The inviting hammocks, gently rocking in the breeze.
Waiting, waiting for the tourists to return.
The sea is still ridiculously blue,
the fish are still amazing!
Tropical Cyclone Pam tore through the islands of Vanuatu
on March 13th, 2015, leaving a trail of destruction.
Pam was declared the
one of the strongest cyclones ever to hit the South Pacific.
The ensuing widespread havoc left 75,000 people
in need of temporary tents and shelters across the islands.
Remarkably, there were just 11 confirmed fatalities.
We walk beside homes with no roofs, their flimsy structures
made from local timber, bamboo, and pandanus stood no chance,
flattened like a cruel game of kerplunk.
Following the storm, the Aid Agencies came to help.
The likes of the Red Cross, World Vision, and Samaritans Purse,
assist with support, housing, and aid.
Across Efate, we find many of these temporary homes.
In those initial days after the storm,
which badly hit the capital of Port Vila
they estimated up to 80% of the power lines were down
and 96% of the food crops were damaged.
Schools disappeared,
with 50% of the country’s education infrastructure
either being badly damaged or destroyed.
Our walk takes us past bags of sugar
beside the road, there is no place left to store it!
At Secret Beach, we see the damage, wind gusts of up to 320kmph
can do to the trees which remain stripped of their leaves,
broken, bent, and battered…
Three toilets are recovered, waiting…
They say much has been achieved in the way of rebuilding
and Vanuatu is very much marketing itself as ‘open for business’
Even if you may have to be a little careful about which resort you choose.
#YourHolidayHelps
is a Vanuatu Tourist Board initiative to attract Holidaymakers to visit.
is a Vanuatu Tourist Board initiative to attract Holidaymakers to visit.
Whilst homes and businesses have been destroyed,
we find a surprising amount of business as usual.
We can see the tropical cyclone Pam damage, but it does not impact greatly on our holiday.
We encourage others to holiday in Vanuatu.
We encourage others to holiday in Vanuatu.
The Melanesian spirit of a Vanuatu nation twice voted
the happiest place on earth, has been tested this year, but not destroyed.
the happiest place on earth, has been tested this year, but not destroyed.
We were happy to have chosen Vanuatu for our holiday
and hope that in some small way to have contributed.
#YourHolidayHelps
For more from Vanuatu please see these previous posts
