Vanuatu earthquake - what is needed in the first 48-hours

The impact of the 7.3 magnitude earthquake in Port Vila, Vanuatu earthquake is unfolding.? As the death toll rises, search and rescue efforts are underway, and severe infrastructure damage is revealed, the long-term impact of the earthquake is still unknown.? World Vision knows from our previous experience responding to earthquakes that the poorest communities will be hit hardest due to:?

• Structural failing of buildings – most earthquake related deaths occur due to poorly constructed buildings.??

• Inability to cope with emergency – limited healthcare systems and emergency response capabilities can slow relief efforts.??

• Secondary impacts – when aid and relief efforts are slow to roll out, secondary impacts including fires, or health outbreaks, can create further complications for communities.??

World Vision is a trusted global responder with decades of experience when it comes to earthquake emergencies. Our local staff in Vanuatu and our strategically located pre-positioning warehouses mean we are able to respond to this disaster quickly to deliver essential relief supplies.?

World Vision can respond when others can’t, in the most desperate and dangerous places, to?help children in crisis survive. And we stay to help them recover and rebuild their lives.??

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Here are five key ways World Vision responds in the first 48 hours after an earthquake:?

1. Local teams?

With local offices in nearly 100 countries, one of World Vision’s biggest strengths when it comes to our emergency response capability is that we have a strong, local presence. ? ? Local staff and volunteers may have their own homes damaged or destroyed and families could be displaced. World Vision is committed to prioritising the safety and well-being of local staff to ensure they are supported and equipped to respond to an earthquake in their community.??

Because the members of World Vision’s response teams are local, they know the area, have crisis plans and infrastructure in place, including pre-positioned resources. We are ready to distribute essentials like shelter, water, food and heaters in immediate response to a disaster. In many countries, our teams have previous experience responding to earthquakes and arrive at affected areas within hours.??

2. Emergency essentials?

In the immediate aftermath of an earthquake, survivors need critical necessities like shelter, blankets, food, clean water, hygiene supplies, cooking kits, cash vouchers, medical care, heating and fuel. World Vision has experience in providing these services already in the communities where we work, as well as resources in strategically located pre-positioning warehouses around the world, so we are well placed to mobilise quickly and coordinate with other agencies to meet the most urgent needs when disaster strikes.??

3. Coordination?

Coordination is paramount during an emergency response. World Vision is committed to working alongside governments, aid agencies, other non-government organisations, local partners, and other groups including militaries and the private sector to ensure earthquake response efforts are coordinated and effective. If all responders work independently, efforts can be duplicated and ineffective, whereas coordination in the immediate aftermath of a crisis maximises resource sharing and effectiveness.?

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4. Child protection?

In the wake of an earthquake, vulnerable children face additional child protection so while it is important to provide immediate, life-saving aid, children also need additional protection. ? ? World Vision creates child-friendly spaces where children have safe places to play. In these spaces, children can receive psychosocial support to help them start to process the trauma they’ve been through, as well as educational support so they can keep learning when schools have been destroyed.??

5. A vision for long-term recovery?

While the short-term recovery process is critical, World Vision is committed to responding with long-term vision. Even in an emergency-response situation, we always focus on empowering the communities where we are working with a sustainable approach.??

?After an earthquake, this means partnering with local organisations and governments and building local skills and capacity, so the local community emerges stronger and better equipped to prepare, respond and recover from disasters in the future.??

We always work to honour the dignity and agency of survivors, empowering them to take control and rebuild their lives. One way we do this is by distributing emergency cash support so survivors can purchase what they need most. We also distribute items like feminine hygiene products for women and targeted support for people with disabilities. Even in the aftermath of an earthquake, we want to make sure we are strengthening communities for their futures.?

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Right now, World Vision’s local teams are there, ready to help children caught in the Vanuatu Earthquake, but we can't do it without you.??

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You can donate to our Pacific Emergency Response fund now to help provide essential supplies: https://my.worldvision.org.nz/donate/campaign/pacific-vanuatu#oneoff??

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