Update on Cyclone Pam relief activities

July 2015 – A recent report received from the Anglican Church of Melanesia (ACOM) tells of their relief work in cyclone affected areas of Penama and Malampa Provinces. 

Bishop James Ligo and the Chairman of the Pam Disaster Committee at the handover of relief supplies on Pentecost Island. © ACOM 2015

The report stated that the ACOM Disaster Committee (DC) had decided to use the Anglican flag ship MV Southern Cross for the relief team to deliver supplies during the official visit of Bishop James Ligo, Diocesan Bishop of the Diocese of Vanuatu and New Caledonia (DOVNC). This relief distribution targeted only the affected areas in the Province of Penama which consists of three Islands, Ambae, Maewo and Pentecost.

Each team member used a distribution form to keep track of food distribution numbers for each household.

In all of the targeted areas, the ACOM DC relief team worked together with the regional priests and district priests on the relief distribution.

On Pentecost Island, they carried out the distribution successfully with the help of church leaders and the community leaders. Bishop James Ligo along with the Chairman of the Pam Disaster Committee performed the handover of relief supplies which were received by the people of the community and the church leaders at different ports on the island.

 

Here is an extract from the report describing the handover of relief supplies for Veuleo Region in North Pentecost:

“Community leaders and the church leaders waited in the custom nagamal* with the community people within the surrounding villages in this region to receive the hurricane relief supplies from the Pam DC Chairman and the ACOM DC team members. Before the handing over of the supplies, the member of the ACOM DC explained the importance of the distribution to all the community leaders and the church leaders for good sharing of the supplies to every community people as part of the church assistance.”

 

 

Above image: District Priest for Surukavian, Chief Representative and the School Chairman of Level Mission Primary School receive the relief supplies from Bishop James and the ACOM DC relief distribution team. The new water tank pictured is to replace the school’s water tank which was damaged by the cyclone.

 

Above image: Senior Priest of Central Region, District Priest and community leaders receive relief supplies from the PAM DC Chairman and the relief distribution team.

 

Above image: District Priest of South Pentecost, Chief Representative and women leaders receive relief supplies.

 

Isuk community, Malampa Province

The distribution also extended to Isuk community which is a new area of the Anglican Church where the first Anglican Church was built and consecrated by the Diocesan Bishop during his last official tour to Malampa Province. This was the final delivery where many community members gathered together to witness the official handover of the relief supplies to three different communities. These were received by the Chief of the Community, a retired priest and the members of the community, pictured below.

The report states, “This day was an historical day for the Anglican Church to step in on this Province of Malampa.”

 

ABM and the Anglican Church of Melanesia are most grateful to all of our supporters who gave so generously to our emergency appeal for Vanuatu. Thank you.  

 

*a traditional meeting place used for gatherings, ceremonies and the drinking of kava. 

(All images shown © ACOM 2015)

 

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