Update about damages caused by category 5 cyclone in Santo, Vanuatu

Category 5 cyclone Harold raged in Melanesia during these past days. Now it has moved away from Vanuatu leaving behind it a lot of damage particularly on the islands of Santo where the Brothers are. Brother Jean-Marie, Superior of the District of Melanesia sent a new report about the damage caused by the cyclone.

 “The cyclone has caused very serious damage on Santo, Pentecost and Ambrym Islands. Many houses are down or standing without a roof. All garden foods have been damaged or destroyed. Most of the people on the islands depend on these crops but now that they are gone, they are wondering what they are going to eat in two weeks’ time. This week and maybe next week they will be able to use some of the food damaged by the cyclone, but then that will be all. It is a major concern at the moment.

We are grateful that aid has already arrived from New Caledonia, Australia, New Zealand and even China too. But of course there is also concern about the COVID 19, so strict measures have been put in place with the arrival of those aids.

On Saturday I was able to talk to the two Brothers on Santo. They are both safe and fine. But like with many other families, the cyclone removed the roofing irons of the Brothers’ house. They have taken refuge in two smaller rooms attached to the main building. They are cleaning the house and trying to save the things they can. That’s how they spent Easter. We will really need some support to rebuild the Brothers’ house as soon as we can. It is not possible for me to travel as all the international flights out of PNG are suspended for another two months. This makes it very difficult for me or others to visit the Brothers.

Apart from the Brothers house, the school buildings are also badly damaged. It will be months before the school is open again. The damage is most serious and we don’t really know how or when the repairs can be done.

We just hope that everything will be quickly re-built and get back to normal.”