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Severe Tropical Cyclone Lola hit Vanuatu on October 25-26 leaving significant damage in its wake and over 50,000 people in the affected area. According to UNICEF, roughly half of the impacted population are children. This is the earliest Category 5 storm on record for the Southern Hemisphere.
Field Ready has been active in Vanuatu since 2018, and has previously responded to the twin tropical cyclones (TC) Judy and Kevin earlier this year, TC Harold in 2020 and the volcanic eruption on Ambae island in 2018.
Above: Manu Jack, Field Ready engineer in Vanuatu
Field Ready’s Response
Since monitoring the situation closely, Field Ready has already begun the mobilization of emergency response personnel who are en route to the impacted areas on Ambae and Pentecost islands.
Field Ready is coordinating closely with local government representatives including the NDMO and the Department of Water Resources (DoWR), which has identified priorities in the WASH sector.
Field Ready’s locally made emergency latrines have been prepositioned and other relief commodities are likely to make a key difference in this response. Field Ready’s Mobile Makerspace may also be deployed.
According to Manu Jack, a Field Ready engineer based in Port Vila, “we are ready to go and help in as many ways as possible.”
Above: Locally made latrine parts in transit during an earlier project.
Our Capability Leaves in Place Capability
Field Ready special approach to relief – including localizing manufacturing – is about building before and after any response.
The importance of localization of aid is highlighted by Field Ready’s Regional Director, Luke Johnston: “we’re building on the years we’ve been working in the country with local business and government partners, and the unique skills we bring to have these critical supplies and trained people ready in the country ready here right now to assist thousands of people and continuing to help Vanuatu to be more capable for the future.”
Among our various partners there, USAID’s Bureau of Humanitarian Response supports disaster risk reduction activities including local manufacturing of relief goods, training and other steps to transfer the approach to disasters.