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Cyclone Pam leaves 'most' of Vanuatu population homeless Cyclone Pam leaves 'most' of Vanuatu population homeless
(35 minutes later)
Vanuatu's president has told the BBC most of his people are homeless after the devastating cyclone that ravaged the Pacific island nation on Saturday.Vanuatu's president has told the BBC most of his people are homeless after the devastating cyclone that ravaged the Pacific island nation on Saturday.
Speaking from Japan, Baldwin Londsdale said Cyclone Pam had destroyed most buildings in the capital Port Vila, including schools and clinics. Speaking from Japan, Baldwin Lonsdale said Cyclone Pam had destroyed most buildings in the capital Port Vila, including schools and clinics.
Vanuatu's population of 267,000 is spread over 65 islands with about 47,000 people living in Port Vila. A state of emergency has been declared in the tiny state of 267,000 people, spread over 65 islands.
At least eight people are reported to have been killed.At least eight people are reported to have been killed.
However, it is feared the toll will rise sharply as rescuers reach outlying islands.However, it is feared the toll will rise sharply as rescuers reach outlying islands.
Thousands of people spent a second night in shelters.Thousands of people spent a second night in shelters.
The category five storm, with winds of up to 270km/h (170mph), veered off its expected course and struck populated areas when it reached Vanuatu early on Saturday local time (+11 GMT).The category five storm, with winds of up to 270km/h (170mph), veered off its expected course and struck populated areas when it reached Vanuatu early on Saturday local time (+11 GMT).
The authorities in Vanuatu are struggling to gauge the extent of the damage across the country because communications are down and fallen power lines and trees have blocked roads.The authorities in Vanuatu are struggling to gauge the extent of the damage across the country because communications are down and fallen power lines and trees have blocked roads.
Meanwhile, the first delivery of aid arrived on a New Zealand Hercules while Australia has also promised immediate assistance, along with the UK and the UN. Meanwhile, the first deliveries of aid have arrived on air force planes from New Zealand and Australia.
The UK, France, UN and European Union have also promised help.
'One toilet between 300''One toilet between 300'
In a statement on Sunday, Oxfam Australia said up to 90% of housing in Port Vila had reportedly been seriously damaged.In a statement on Sunday, Oxfam Australia said up to 90% of housing in Port Vila had reportedly been seriously damaged.
"This is likely to be one of the worst disasters ever seen in the Pacific," said Oxfam's Colin Collet van Rooyen in Port Vila."This is likely to be one of the worst disasters ever seen in the Pacific," said Oxfam's Colin Collet van Rooyen in Port Vila.
"The scale of humanitarian need will be enormous and the proud people of Vanuatu are going to need a lot of help to rebuild their homes and their lives.""The scale of humanitarian need will be enormous and the proud people of Vanuatu are going to need a lot of help to rebuild their homes and their lives."
Immediate priorities, he said, were providing shelter, clean water and sanitation.Immediate priorities, he said, were providing shelter, clean water and sanitation.
Port Vila's airport has been closed since the cyclone struck but officials said they hoped it might partly reopen on Sunday to allow in the first relief planes.
A UN disaster assessment team is due to arrive in Vanuatu in the coming hours.A UN disaster assessment team is due to arrive in Vanuatu in the coming hours.
Mark Le Roux, of the Adventist Development and Relief Agency, told the BBC the situation in Port Vila was "pretty grim".Mark Le Roux, of the Adventist Development and Relief Agency, told the BBC the situation in Port Vila was "pretty grim".
"We have 20 evacuation centres with about 2,000 people in them, some of our evacuation centres have up to 300 people sharing one toilet," he said."We have 20 evacuation centres with about 2,000 people in them, some of our evacuation centres have up to 300 people sharing one toilet," he said.
Chloe Morrison, an emergency communications officer with World Vision in Port Vila, said residents had woken to much calmer weather on Sunday.Chloe Morrison, an emergency communications officer with World Vision in Port Vila, said residents had woken to much calmer weather on Sunday.
She said communications were still down in many areas and her group had been unable to account for many of its 76 staff members on the islands.
She said it would have been a "very, very tough time" for anyone not in a secure shelter during the cyclone.She said it would have been a "very, very tough time" for anyone not in a secure shelter during the cyclone.
President Lonsdale made an impassioned plea for international help earlier.President Lonsdale made an impassioned plea for international help earlier.
"I am speaking to you today with a heart that is so heavy," he said at the UN Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction in Japan."I am speaking to you today with a heart that is so heavy," he said at the UN Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction in Japan.
"I stand to appeal on behalf of the government and the people to give a helping hand in this disaster.""I stand to appeal on behalf of the government and the people to give a helping hand in this disaster."
The extent of the devastation is unlikely to be known for several days, said Tom Skirrow, Save the Children's Vanuatu country director.The extent of the devastation is unlikely to be known for several days, said Tom Skirrow, Save the Children's Vanuatu country director.
Unconfirmed reports on Saturday said 44 people had died in Penama province in the north-east of Vanuatu, according to the UN's Office for the Co-ordination for Humanitarian Assistance (UNOCHA).Unconfirmed reports on Saturday said 44 people had died in Penama province in the north-east of Vanuatu, according to the UN's Office for the Co-ordination for Humanitarian Assistance (UNOCHA).
Pam had already caused major damage on other Pacific islands, including Kiribati and the Solomon Islands.Pam had already caused major damage on other Pacific islands, including Kiribati and the Solomon Islands.
Tuvalu, a group of nine tiny islands north-east of Vanuatu, also declared a state of emergency after the cyclone caused flash floods there.Tuvalu, a group of nine tiny islands north-east of Vanuatu, also declared a state of emergency after the cyclone caused flash floods there.
Are you in Vanuatu? Have you been affected by the cyclone? You can share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. If you are available to speak to a BBC journalist, please include a contact telephone number.Are you in Vanuatu? Have you been affected by the cyclone? You can share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. If you are available to speak to a BBC journalist, please include a contact telephone number.
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