26 Jan 2011

Relief agencies work to get supplies to cyclone hit islands in Vanuatu

4:34 pm on 26 January 2011

Relief Agencies say areas in Vanuatu affected by Cyclone Vania over a week ago will face food shortages for the next three months.

The islands of Tanna, Erromango, and Aniwa in Tafea province rely heavily on subsistence farming but the cyclone has destroyed most of the fruit and vegetable crops.

May Pascual from UNICEF Vanuatu, says a number of agencies met yesterday to discuss the situation.

She says the main concern is getting food supplies out there and also treating the water.

"There will be a package for a wash, they are thinking also of some food rations for the next three months. As of now that would need to be also presented to the Government and maybe that would need some external donors."

May Pascual estimates around 16,000 people from the major southern island of Tanna have been affected.