By Glenda Willie Oct 23, 2021
The Vanuatu Red Cross Society (VRCS) is one of the first humanitarian organisations to intervene and support the victims of the recent eviction order at MCI, on the road to Blacksand.
Emma Mesao, Senior Branch Officer to SHEFA Red Cross explained that the organisation deals with the lives of people, and they respond to natural disasters.
While the eviction is not a natural disaster, people’s living and welfare had been affected.
On Thursday, a team was deployed to the area to assess the situation and identified two priority needs, this included shelter and water.
VRCS distributed two tarpaulins and two jerry cans to each household. Over 60 households receive their share of their emergency supplies.
Mrs. Mesao confirmed that when distributing the supplies, they also encourage the people to boil water before drinking, to avoid other health issues.
Most of the families have relocated to other settlements.
A lot of them went to Blandiniere Stage Three, and Crystal Blue Area. Others went to other areas within the peri-urban areas of Port Vila, including Blacksand and Erangorango. The Red Cross team visited all the areas to distribute the water containers and tarpaulins.
Speaking on behalf of the families at MCI, Mr. Lai Sakita, conveyed acknowledgement to VRCS for providing the families with the tarpaulin and jerry cans.
These emergency supplies will allow the people to set up temporary shelters while they resettle.
SHEFA Provincial Government Council, through its National Disaster Management Office officer supported VRCS in the logistics, during the distribution roll-out.
He said these families were victims of the ash-fall from Tanna’s Yasur volcano