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Cyclone Pam: Vanuatu islanders forced to drink saltwater Cyclone Pam: Vanuatu islanders forced to drink saltwater
(about 1 hour later)
People living on a remote island in the north-west of Vanuatu are having to drink saltwater following last week's devastating cyclone, the BBC has discovered. People living on a remote island in the north-west of Vanuatu are having to drink harmful saltwater following last week's cyclone, the BBC has discovered.
Residents of Moso say they are still waiting for outside help to arrive.Residents of Moso say they are still waiting for outside help to arrive.
Aid agencies have begun trying to access the country's small outer islands, but flooding has stopped their planes from landing in some areas.Aid agencies have begun trying to access the country's small outer islands, but flooding has stopped their planes from landing in some areas.
One pilot said the normally lush landscape had been transformed. One pilot said the lush landscape had been transformed and now looked as if it had been destroyed by a bush fire.
It now looked as if it had been destroyed by a bush fire, the pilot said. In addition to drinking water shortages, officials say there is also a desperate need for food and shelter, with tens of thousands of people now homeless.
In addition to drinking water, officials say there is also a desperate need for food and shelter, with tens of thousands of people now homeless.
The larger islands have begun to receive some international help.The larger islands have begun to receive some international help.
The United Nations has revised the official number of dead, bringing it down to 11 from an earlier figure of 24. The United Nations has revised the official number of dead, bringing it down to 11 from an earlier figure of 24. The relatively low number of casualties has been attributed to the advance warnings that were issued.
Four days after the cyclone struck, aid agencies say that outlying areas of Vanuatu hit by Cyclone Pam suffered "significantly worse" damage than the island nation's capital.Four days after the cyclone struck, aid agencies say that outlying areas of Vanuatu hit by Cyclone Pam suffered "significantly worse" damage than the island nation's capital.
Prime Minister Joe Natuman told the BBC that the full extent of the damage across the islands was still not clear.Prime Minister Joe Natuman told the BBC that the full extent of the damage across the islands was still not clear.
He said that the more heavily populated islands of Tanna and Efate received most of the damage.He said that the more heavily populated islands of Tanna and Efate received most of the damage.
"The other islands should be okay," he said, "except maybe one group.""The other islands should be okay," he said, "except maybe one group."
Local people and aid agencies say that the rebuilding effort will be immense.Local people and aid agencies say that the rebuilding effort will be immense.
Getting aid to the islands has proven difficult because of a lack of landing strips or deepwater ports.Getting aid to the islands has proven difficult because of a lack of landing strips or deepwater ports.
Teams carrying medical supplies, food, water and shelter equipment landed on the outer islands of Tanna and Erromango, agencies said.Teams carrying medical supplies, food, water and shelter equipment landed on the outer islands of Tanna and Erromango, agencies said.
Tanna island has a population of about 30,000 people and is about 200km (124 miles) south of the capital Port Vila. It was directly in the path of the cyclone. The government is planning to set up a relay system known as "air bridges", where a large plane goes to a provincial capital, with lighter aircraft or boats being dispatched to surrounding islands.
Tanna island has a population of about 30,000 people and is about 200km (124 miles) south of the capital Port Vila. It was directly in the path of the cyclone and all of its crops and most of its houses have been destroyed.
Tom Perry from Care Australia said relief workers in Tanna reported the hospital was functioning but had no roof.Tom Perry from Care Australia said relief workers in Tanna reported the hospital was functioning but had no roof.
Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said military planes flown over the islands had reported major damage to houses and crops. Similar damage was reported by Save the Children in Tongoa - a small island and has about 3,000 people - where 95% of homes are estimated to have been destroyed.
Communication to many of the other 80 islands in the archipelago are still down and officials have warned survivors could quickly run out of food. Communication to many of the other 80 islands in the archipelago is still down and officials have warned survivors could quickly run out of food.
The struggle to reach Vanuatu's islandsThe struggle to reach Vanuatu's islands
Aurelia Balpe, head of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) for the Pacific, says the Vanuatu government is co-ordinating assessment and aid, including flights to other islands.Aurelia Balpe, head of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) for the Pacific, says the Vanuatu government is co-ordinating assessment and aid, including flights to other islands.
Aid agencies have organised themselves in clusters to better co-ordinate help.Aid agencies have organised themselves in clusters to better co-ordinate help.
"There are difficulties in understanding how large a plane can land on some islands. In many of these small islands, they don't have ports that can handle large vessels. In some places we may need to construct landing places for planes and boats," Ms Balpe said."There are difficulties in understanding how large a plane can land on some islands. In many of these small islands, they don't have ports that can handle large vessels. In some places we may need to construct landing places for planes and boats," Ms Balpe said.
Many smaller boats in Port Vila were damaged by the storm, and the distance is a challenge. "It's about 150km from Port Vila to the island of Erromango - which would take at least four hours in a small boat - and another 80km from Erromango to Tanna." Many smaller boats in Port Vila were damaged by the storm, and the distances are a challenge.
Poor weather and rough seas are also an issue. "The first couple of days were very difficult because of the cyclone, and even now there are really bad swells and storm surges," Ms Balpe said. Poor weather and rough seas are also an issue.
"The first couple of days were very difficult because of the cyclone, and even now there are really bad swells and storm surges," Ms Balpe said.
The category five storm hit Vanuatu on Saturday, bringing wind gusts of up to 300km/h (185mph).The category five storm hit Vanuatu on Saturday, bringing wind gusts of up to 300km/h (185mph).
Many people have lost their homes or face extensive rebuilding. Telecommunications, power and water supplies have all been badly affected.Many people have lost their homes or face extensive rebuilding. Telecommunications, power and water supplies have all been badly affected.
In Port Vila a clean-up is under way but the destruction was extensive. Power and water have been restored in some areas but up to 90% of homes have been damaged. In Port Vila, power and water have been restored in some areas, with officials reporting good progress in the clear-up operation, despite up to 90% of homes being damaged.
"The main roads around the island are expected to be cleared by tomorrow," a Unicef spokeswoman said.
The hospital is coping with an influx of injured people but a surgeon said beds had been moved outside because of structural damage.The hospital is coping with an influx of injured people but a surgeon said beds had been moved outside because of structural damage.
The president, returning from a conference in Japan, has described the storm as a "monster" linked to climate change, citing changing weather patterns, rising seas and heavier-than-average rain in Vanuatu.The president, returning from a conference in Japan, has described the storm as a "monster" linked to climate change, citing changing weather patterns, rising seas and heavier-than-average rain in Vanuatu.
Australia announced on Tuesday that it was sending more personnel, including a search and rescue team, and three more military planes carrying aid.Australia announced on Tuesday that it was sending more personnel, including a search and rescue team, and three more military planes carrying aid.
How poor is Vanuatu?How poor is Vanuatu?
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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