Help is on its way to cyclone stricken parts of Vanuatu as sailors and aid organisations band together to bring much needed supplies to the country.

Published 2 years ago, updated 6 months ago

Luc Callebaut and his colleague Victor Taburiaux, organizers of the Grand Large Yachting World Odyssey 500 (GLYWO), sparked the idea of their rally members bringing aid to Vanuatu following the devastation caused by cyclones Judy and Kevin in late February and early March 2023.

“Our boats have now all arrived in New Caledonia with what they could carry from New Zealand and will be soon sailing to Vanuatu,” Luc told Noonsite.

“I received the following email from Port Resolution in Tanna, the first community we will visit …

Hi Luc , thanks for your email. After the cyclone, we busy with our homes doing cleaning up and reconstruction.  Unfortunately ensuite bungalow had been damaged by the cyclone. We have only two rooms that we can use with shared facilities. The yacht club need reconstruction. Can you help put out words for donations. If inform finance, I am happy to give bank account.  Things that people can donate such as plates,  spoons, towels, blankets, bed covers, mosquito nets, cooking utensils.  Villagers also need clothing, nails, hammers, saws, extras. Anything else I’ll let you know….Werry Narua

“We will bring what we can and also help kick-start tourism activities so the villagers have again a means to earn cash income as tourism resumes in Vanuatu.

“Thank you to our campaign supporters for your precious help! Photos and videos will be taken and posted of our interactions in Vanuatu so you can really see the results of your donations!”

Yacht Aid Global Activates Operation Nasama

In response to the State of Emergency issued by the Vanuatu government following the cyclones and then two earthquakes, YachtAid Global has activated Operation Nasama to help the people of Vanuatu via three main goals:

1.  Clean Water Access – immediately mobilize, distribute and establish available and ongoing sources of purified, potable water by providing and distributing water filters to affected schools and communities.
2. Provide Shelter Rebuilding Kits and Hygiene Kits – for the most vulnerable members of the community in order not to further exacerbate the mass unsheltered population and greatly reduce the contraction of both communicable, viral and bacterial diseases and mitigate infectious transmissibility.
3. Yachting Community Social Responsibility – increase the involvement and participation of the yachting community in supporting communities impacted by disasters by providing direct support to the cruising grounds that they frequently visit and enjoy.

The Yacht Aid newsletter reports that building and infrastructure, including power and communication, has been severely damaged by the two back-to-back cyclones. Food crops have been seriously affected, increasing food insecurity. Access to safe drinking water is a key concern and many communities remain cut off from assistance due to flooding and the destruction of roads.

If you want to help, find out more information at the links below.

Related News:

• Cruisers Unite to Help Cyclone Ravaged Islands

Related Links:

• GLY World Odyssey 500 – GiveSendGo
• Yacht Aid Global – Operation Nasama

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