Transcript
PETER KORISA: We are looking at most probably before the end of this week or early next week, we will start responding.
JENNY MEYER: Ok and what about those people who don't have any shelter, how many homes do you estimate have been destroyed where people are in need of shelter?
PK: That's one of our gaps at the moment. Like we have some data in place in terms of households and number of people but then we need to verify those data by Provincial Authorities because we are using the 2015 mini-census data. That's one of our gaps we need to quickly verify those data so that we can use it. In the meantime we are still yet to collect data, the household number and the population number.
JM: So what are your main areas of concern right now, what are the main priorities?
PK: Our main priorities are looking at basic needs. Things like food and water, and we will be, right now we are sending people down to help with the Provincial Authorities to come up with quick data so that we will start responding. Our first priority is more to do with assessment right now.
JM: And have you had any more reports and further reports of casualties, or deaths or injuries?
PK: Only, we only confirmed two kids. It was due to rain and they were drowned because of flooding. They were in Santo, they were actually trying to cross the river and because it was raining because there was a lot of rain during TC Hola. So they were with their mother, they were taken away by the strong flood river.
JM: How old were they, do you know?
PK: Sorry unfortunately I don't have their age.
JM: Well that's very sad. So you think that supplies will reach, will be sent out in Malekula and Ambrym, is it?
PK: Yes based on our aerial surveillance we are looking at Malekula, Ambrym part of Pentecost and a small part of Malo.
JM: And have you heard from Aneityum?
PK: Aneityum and Tafea Province is well, few very minor damages on the roads in Tanna but no major damages on Aniwa, Futuna or even Erromango.
JM: So when the supplies go out, will they be existing Red Cross supplies?
PK: Yes we will be working together with, when we do supplies we will be looking at the areas in terms of aerial recovery and then going on to recovery.
JM: Ok so just remind me again, what is it that is stopping you from sending out the relief supplies now?
PK: We have some problem with data. We don't know exactly the number of people affected, so they are just reporting to us these people are affected, these people are affected, but they are not really giving us how many households in that particular area. So we will base on the household number and then we will start the responding.
