Vanuatu - As a massive typhoon bears down on the tiny Pacific nation of Vanuatu, IOM has joined the emergency team set up to respond in case of a severe disaster.

Typhoon Pam, one of four major weather systems in the Pacific, has developed into a Category 5 storm, packing winds of over 250 kilometers per hour. As at 14:00 local time on Friday (GMT +11) it was already affecting the northern part of the island chain and a red alert has been issued for all provinces, according to IOM’s representative Dr. Lesi Korovavala.

“We are monitoring local radio and they are starting to feel it up there,” he said. “Here in the capital everything is on shut down and the National Disaster Management Office and the Vanuatu Humanitarian Team have activated the emergency cluster system.”

About one sixth of Vanuatu’s population of 260,000 live in the capital, Port Vila. At this stage the storm is predicted to pass on the western side, bringing strong winds and rain, but it could also change course and make a direct hit. Nearby Fiji is also bracing for Pam’s impact.

“People in the north are very resilient but many of the houses are constructed of locally sourced material so they are very vulnerable to high winds and floods,” said Dr. Korovavala. "Their plantations are usually the first to be destroyed so this would have a major impact on their livelihoods. We are all working from home but will assess the situation again on Sunday, and we are ready to respond to any requests”.

IOM’s representative in the neighboring Solomon Islands reported heavy rains in the southern provinces, but no requests for assistance.

Severe weather generated by Pam is also affecting Papua New Guinea with the island of New Britain worst affected. An IOM team has just returned from an assessment to the island, located off the north coast, which has a population of close to 500,000.

“We visited nine affected communities with Government representatives,” said Wonesai Sithole, IOM’s Senior Emergencies Officer. “One person died when their home collapsed, and 90 are displaced in the areas we saw, but we expect that to rise. Some of the places are inaccessible with roads and bridges washed away.”

Pam is just one of four severe weather systems in the Pacific right now. Tropical storms Nathan and Olywn are bringing heavy rains to west and northeast Australia respectively, while Bavi is developing to the west of the Marshall Islands. IOM is following up reports of damages totaling USD 250,000 on the island of Kwajalein, and destruction of houses on the island of Ujae.

For more information please contact

Dr. Lesi Korovavala IOM Vanuatu Email: lkorovavala@iom.int Tel: +678 5955049

or

George Gigauri IOM Papua New Guinea Email: ggigauri@iom.int Tel: +675 73200136