Australia wraps up Vanuatu response following earthquake
- simoneworthing
- May 15
- 2 min read
BY SIMONE WORTHING
Australians Lieut-Colonel Gregory Morgan (Secretary for Mission) and Daryl Crowden (General Manager, Salvation Army Emergency Services) have recently returned from the Pacific island of Vanuatu, where they facilitated an end-of-program evaluation of The Salvation Army’s earthquake relief program.
The Salvation Army has had a small but dynamic presence in Vanuatu for 14 years. As Daryl explains, “When their community is impacted by natural disaster (which is every year), the response may be small, but it is immediate and practical. Within two hours of the December 17 earthquake, the ladies of The Salvation Army were cooking and serving hot meals (7000 over seven days) from the church property, and their neighbours were accessing water from our tanks and using the amenities.
“In the weeks that followed, The Salvation Army Australia supplemented the local fellowship with response personnel (Daryl and Major Darren Elsley, Remote and Rural Chaplain in Far West NSW,) and resources, and implemented a rapid response program that we have just concluded.”
Widespread support
Daryl and Greg worked with partners ADRA Vanuatu and UNICEF to wrap up the response. They also met with those who have been supported with funds provided by The Salvation Army International and the Australia Territory, and those raised through a Vanuatu earthquake appeal.
“Thanks to support from our partners ADRA and UNICEF, we supported 18,464 people – 23 per cent of all those impacted – providing hardship grants to 122 families, getting clean water into (eight) schools and (two) health facilities, restoring rainwater harvesting, and ensuring 4612 schoolkids (and their families) have safe drinking water,” said Daryl. “It wasn’t always smooth sailing, but together, we made a real difference for families affected by the disaster.
“For an agency the size of The Salvation Army in Vanuatu, that is huge. So, a very big thank you to those that gave in support of the people of Vanuatu.”
This data will be verified when the report is released at the end of May.
Vibrant fellowship
During the visit, both Daryl and Greg spent time with the local Salvation Army community.
On the Saturday, they visited The Salvation Army’s fruit and vegetable garden in a bush community that provides food resources and income for the Salvos, and for single mums and widows who live at the Salvos site in Tagabe. “We needed a bit of four-wheel driving to get us there – thanks to Daryl for the driving,” Greg shared.
“[Then] It was wonderful to worship at The Salvation Army Vanuatu on Sunday and I enjoyed the opportunity to share a message from God’s Word,” added Greg. “Daryl and I were given a warm welcome to this vibrant fellowship, which is full of joy and hope.
“We concluded our time together with lunch. God bless The Salvation Army in Vanuatu!”
