Havannah Cyclone Pam Emergency Aid

Just a quick update... after looking at what we forecast will be the immediate needs in the upcoming weeks and outlining the projects we would like to see completed, we decided we need to increase the overall fundraising goal. To date we have spent $9,635 and supplied food for 1,209 people. That is around $7.97 per person - with each drop expected to last them approximately 7-10 days. We only found out in the past few days that the international aid agencies are not allowed to hand out food... only shelter kits, cooking kits, water purification devices etc. The food that is going out is insufficient... and now at 3 weeks after Pam, the food issue is really going to start to become evident. Pro-Medical doing a great job providing water and mobile health teams - and we are liaising with them and others in our area who have raised funds and donated building materials to ensure that we can provide a united approach to what we are facing.

We hope as a group that in the coming weeks, and by pooling our resources, we can establish a medical health post for the North of Efate based in Tanoliu (as Tanoliu is the northern regional centre, and a post there could service communities over a 40km stretch, as well as some of the closer offshore islands), fix the primary school and kindergarten, rebuild lost houses in cement block so they will survive future cyclones/monsoon, and provide communal taps/washing areas so people can easily access potable water and not have to walk long distances every time they need to wash/cook etc.

To this end we have increased our goal from $50K to $75K - as we estimate we will need to spend at least another $30k on food before the short term food crisis, and that will leave us $30K to contribute to the rebuilding and infrastructure effort that we will contribute to alongside others in our community - including Pro-Medical who are looking at the health post, 2 sets of neighbours are putting together containers of donated building materials, food and school supplies in Australia and NZ, and other residents here who have been working tirelessly to support local communities on a daily basis. There are too many to list here - but this cyclone has pulled everyone together with a united goal... to make something good and lasting come out of all the sadness and devastation we have faced, and help those who have welcomed us (be it as residents or tourists) into their country with smiles and laughter - and a great deal of love.

susan and the Havannah Barman crew — at Lelepa Island.

Severe Tropical Cyclone Pam has devastated our local communities of North Efate, include the island of Lelepa and Tanoliu village... and aid is not getting to them.  International aid has been prioritised to the outer islands, but many places have no or limited drinking water.  All villages are now facing a food crisis as their gardens were destroyed, and many families have already depleted any food stocks they had.   Between Lelepa and Tanoliu 11 families lost their homes, including 7 of The Havannah staff.  Several children are already sick from drinking contaminated water - and there is a real danger that we may face an outbreak of water borne disease.  Sanitation and health services in the north of the island around our community are non-existant.  We are trying to keep all of our 65 staff employed so they may continue to have an income to help them and their families buy some food, but it is not going to be enough for the community as a whole, or to even start helping to rebuild lost homes.  Former guests of the Havannah and those who have visited Vanuatu will be able to attest to how beautiful the Ni-Vanuatu people are, and how caring our staff are.  They now need your help.

The Havannah Resort will ensure that 100% of all funds are used to purchase urgently needed food and drinking water, repair water and sanitation infrastructure, and provide building materials for those in need.   The initial relief program is for food and water - as the government food rations are not enough for people to survive... and the international aid agencies are not allowed to hand out food. We can't look after everyone... but so far we have been supporting 3 villages, as well as giving smaller food donations to other nearby communities.

Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions.  We will provide photos and information of how all funding  has been spent to followers on our facebook page so you can see your donation is going where it is most needed.   For any further information, you may either contact us direct in Vanuatu on +678 24600/ 5516300 or via our Facebook page, or contact our Marketing manager in Australia, david carter on +613413 45702, or our NZ Marketing manager, ruben michell on +64 850 28357