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Response to "catastrophic" cyclone Pam underway in Vanuatu
16.03.2015 09:17 "Agro Perspectiva" (Kyiv) —
The Pacific Humanitarian Team of the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) is responding to what it called the «catastrophic impacts of a devastating cyclone» in Vanuatu, UN Radio reports.
As to the report, within the last two days the cyclone PAM has affected most of the island nation located in the South Pacific Ocean.
Reportedly, the severe category 5 cyclone slammed into Vanuatus capital, Port Vila, on the evening of 13 March.
As to the report, a disaster of this magnitude has not been experienced by Vanuatu in recent history.
Winds are estimated to have reached 250 km ph with gusts peaking even higher, causing damage to infrastructure, impacting services such as electricity and leaving debris spread across the capital.
It is to be admitted, at the same time now the representatives from 186 governments are at the Third UN World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction, where a new framework to reduce the risk of disasters, such as this one, is expected to be adopted.
While speaking at the Conference, the Vanuatus President, Baldwin Lonsdale, told the gathering that his countrys «hope for prospering into the future has been shattered».
«Im speaking with you today with a heart that is so heavy. I do not really know what impact cyclone Pam has left on Vanuatu as there are no confirmed reports as of yet,» Mr. Lonsdale said.
However, the Head of OCHAs regional office for the Pacific, Sune Gudnitz, said the Pacific Humanitarian Team is ready to support the government-led response.
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