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Ambae
evacuation effort in full swing
An
armada of ferries, trawlers and other boats is heading towards the
Vanuatu island of Ambae, as the country prepares to evacuate about
five percent of its population
30
September, 2017
Footage of the #Ambae #volcano from the summit of Mt Lombenben.
Uploaded to Facebook by Nixon Garae Tambeana
Subs by #DailyPost
The
government yesterday decided to evacuate
the whole population of Ambae,
as the island's volcano continues to erupt.
More
than 7000 people are already crammed into coastal evacuation centres,
as a thick layer of volcanic ash and acid rain blankets villages and
crops.
The
disaster coordinator on Ambae Manuel Ure said authorities were hoping
to clear the whole island - more than 11,000 people - this weekend.
The
evacuees will be scattered around the nearby islands of Santo,
Pentecost, Malekula and Maewo, he said.
"A
few people have already made personal arrangements to travel out from
Ambae to their families in either Port Vila or Santo or the other
islands, but the provincial arrangement, we are waiting [for] ships
to come in and are hoping that we can evacuate most people probably
during the weekend."
But
Mr Ure said money and resources were really tight and he called on
other provinces to assist more.
People
being evacuated on Ambae. Photo: YumiToktok
"We
continue to supply them with basic food but at the moment we still
have problem with food, shelter and water.
"The
Vanuatu government been promising to give us some money and support
us with funds and at the moment we received just 1 million vatu
($NZ12,800), but managing 8000 people that amount of money is not
enough and we are still running out of shelter, food and water."
A
leader in the Malbangbang area of southern Pentecost, Robinson Tema,
said chiefs had made the decision to accept about 500 evacuees.
He
said villagers were clearing out Nakamals and churches, readying for
their arrival some time before Sunday.
"The
area that I'm living in, they have lots of rivers. Maybe with food,
we need help from the government to support us with food to feed the
people who will be coming from Amba."
Mr
Tema said he did not know how long people would be staying.
People devastated at having to leave their homes
The
head of the provincial government on Ambae Georgewin Garae said
people were upset at having to leave their home.
Mr
Garae said islanders were used to the volcano - one of the world's
most active - but he has never seen it erupt like it is currently.
He
said people were devastated at what's going on, but safety was
paramount.
"It
is very devastating, it is very sad, the information that was going
out yesterday notifying people of the move, people were crying. But
then the understanding is that safety comes first."
Mr
Garae said it is impossible to say how long it may be before they can
return.
He
said ships were starting to arrive from around the country with much
needed supplies.
"We
are hopeful that the ship that is coming today will provide enough
for the remaining two or three days before we evacuate them to the
other locations."
Mr
Garae said he expeced the island to be completely evacuated by the
middle of next week.
People
from all walks of life are contributing to the Ambae relief
effort. Photo: Vanuatu Daily Post
Lavinia
Mahit of Auckland has family on Amba.
She
said the situation was heartbreaking.
"I'm
very concerned, I mean, what do you pack? What do you get? Where do
you go?"
"And
when you're being evacuated, how do you settle into another village
on another island?"
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