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Pacific: Tropical Cyclone Pam (MDR55001) Operations update n° 7 (24-months consolidated report) Issued on 31 March 2016

Countries
Vanuatu
+ 4 more
Sources
IFRC
Publication date
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Operation Summary

March-April 2015: Tropical Cyclone Pam developed in the East of Solomon Islands on 6 March and gained strength as it moved south towards Vanuatu. Heavy rain, strong winds and sea swell, combined with king tides, caused widespread coastal flooding and wind damage. Pam hit Vanuatu as a Category 5 cyclone on 13 March. An Information Bulletin was issued and a Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF) Operation was launched for Vanuatu. An IFRC Field Assessment Coordination Team (FACT) was deployed and an International Appeal, consolidating the operations in the five affected countries, for CHF 5.7 million was launched on 23 March. The appeal aimed to cover affected communities in Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea, Tuvalu, Solomon Islands and Kiribati. Relief distributions were conducted across five countries and an Operations Update was issued on 10 April.

May-June 2015: Early recovery assessments commenced. Real-time evaluation (RTE) planning and recruitment process started. Plans of action for the five countries were updated based on the assessment findings, resulting in the overall International Appeal revision. Operations Update 2 was issued on 15 May. The International Appeal revision is launched on 17 June, with a budget of CHF 6.8 million.

July-August 2015: Recovery materials arrive in Vanuatu and Kiribati with materials arriving in Tuvalu later the same month. WASH recovery work begins in Vanuatu and Operations Update 3 issued on 21 July. The Real-Time Evaluation is completed in early August. Additional recovery assessments in Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu and Tuvalu.

September-October 2015: An estimated 44,7851 people have been assisted across all cyclone-affected countries with direct relief activities. Operations update 4 is published.

November – December 2015: IFRC and French Red Cross sign a Project Cooperation and Funding Agreement, in which the French Red Cross will support the Vanuatu Red Cross in the implementation of the appeal activities in North Tanna. Meanwhile, the WASH cluster has been reactivated due to El Nino response. A total of 900 households have received the Build Back Safer Awareness sessions in West Tanna. The participatory hygiene and sanitation transformation (PHAST) training of trainers (TOT) in Vanuatu has been held. Finally, the Tuvalu Red Cross Society was recognized by Red Cross Movement, and is now officially the 190th registered member of the International Federation.