Relief workers are rushing emergency food and water supplies to remote areas in Vanuatu, the South Pacific island nation that was pummeled last week by a powerful cyclone. Authorities are warning of a potential humanitarian crisis, especially on the worst-hit island of Tanna, where more than 80 percent of homes were partially or completely destroyed. Poor weather and communications issues have hampered aid delivery and prevented authorities from even being able to judge the scale of the disaster in some more distant areas. There are also concerns over a lack of food, after the storm destroyed fruit trees, crops and fishing boats that many residents rely on for subsistence. Cyclone Pam destroyed homes and buildings and leveled trees as it crossed the South Pacific island chain on Friday and Saturday with winds up to 270 kilometers per hour. The United Nations humanitarian agency said 11 people are confirmed dead, but officials expect the toll to rise. Another 3,300 people were sheltering in evacuation centers. Vanuatu, an archipelago of some 80 islands located about 2,200 kilometers off the northeast coast of Australia, is frequently hit by cyclones.
from Voice of America http://ift.tt/1ADHUDH
from Voice of America http://ift.tt/1ADHUDH
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