UN offers humanitarian aid to
Vanuatu following cyclone Harold
 |
| A photo nade available by MAXAR Technologies shows a satellite image of Santo Pekoa international airport on Espiritu Santo Island, Vanuatu, after category-5 cyclone Harold passed (ANSA) |
Following a cyclone that struck the region last week, the
United Nations is offering humanitarian assistance to Vanuatu and other
southern Pacific countries.
By Vatican News
The United Nations has released $2.5 million from its
emergency humanitarian fund on Monday to help thousands of people in the South
Pacific island nation of Vanuatu affected by Cyclone Harold. The UN has also
offered support to other countries hit by the storm.
Cyclone Harold made landfall on the largest island in
Vanuatu, Espiritu Santo, on April 6 before hitting the Solomon Islands, Fiji
and Tonga.
Deep solidarity
UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said Sunday that
Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed “deep solidarity with the people
of the Pacific as they face the impact of this cyclone along with other
climate-related challenges, as well as the coronavirus pandemic, which adds a
worrying new dimension to existing vulnerabilities.”
Urgent needs
The release of emergency funds was announced by Mark
Lowcock, United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and
Emergency Relief Coordinator and the Head of the United Nations Office for the
Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. He said, “Thousands of people urgently
need shelter, water and food to survive.” He praised the government and first
responders for ensuring people were safe before the storm and meeting immediate
needs immediately after. But Lowcock said: “As the extent of the destruction
becomes clear, this U.N. funding will ensure aid supplies are maintained and
reach the people who need it.”
Vanuatu is an island nation of almost 300,000 people. The
archipelago is located in the South Pacific, about 1700 kilometres east of
northern Australia.
Không có nhận xét nào:
Đăng nhận xét