On Friday, March 3, Vanuatu declared a state of emergency as it battled its second major hurricane in a week, which brought torrential rains and strong winds. The two successive hurricanes have shed light on the growing reality facing Pacific island nations in the face of climate change.
Vanuatu Foreign Minister Yoltan Napat said the recent disaster was yet another reminder that islands are increasingly vulnerable to extreme weather, which is exacerbated by climate change.
"While the intense hurricanes Judy and Kevin showed no mercy to the people of Vanuatu, it is gratifying that countries committed to co-sponsoring Vanuatu's UN resolution clarifying international climate obligations," he said. ”
However, even if the Vanuatu-sponsored climate justice resolution is passed, it will not be binding. The original resolution did not have the signatures of the major powers of China and the United States, nor of the Indo-Pacific regional powers such as Indonesia or India. Still, this historic claim promises to set a strong precedent.
Reuters reported that Category 4 Hurricane Kevin brought strong winds and torrential rain to the island, less than a week after the capital Port Vila was forced to evacuate some residents after being hit by Hurricane Judy. The country, which straddles 13 major islands in the southwest Pacific, has suffered damage to power communications and roads.
According to the disaster prevention department, Hurricane Kevin brought gusts of more than 230 kilometers per hour. To make things even more precarious, Santo Island was hit by two earthquakes as residents began cleaning up the damage caused by Hurricane Judy. The first magnitude 6.5 quake occurred at 5 a.m. on Friday, about 90 kilometers from the city of Luganville, and the second magnitude 5.4 quake occurred at 6:30 a.m.
No casualties have been reported on the island, which has more than 40,000 inhabitants, but communication with some areas is often poor and the circumstances remain unclear. However, so far, no significant losses have been recorded.
After the twin hurricanes, Prime Minister Ismail Karzakhao declared a state of emergency. "After the aerial assessment report and the ground assessment, we will be able to declare the severely damaged place as the disaster area." He said.
The French ambassador to Vanuatu, Jean Baptiste Jean Vilmer, highlighted the losses that followed this series of disasters as the French government sent humanitarian aid from nearby Noumea.
Assistance was also provided by Australia, and Minister of Defence, Richard Mars, confirmed that, at the request of the Government of Vanuatu, it had dispatched a rapid assessment team to assess the damage.
"The Australian Defence Force, as part of a whole-of-government effort, is coordinating closely with the Pacific family to provide the best possible support to the people of Vanuatu," Mars said in a statement. ”
Port Vila-based journalist Dan Macgarry said the spirit of "community well-being" is evident even in disasters.
"Vanuatu people have learned to prepare for hurricanes through thousands of years of experience. They think in terms of community well-being, sometimes at the expense of personal happiness and success. Macquary said.
Still, he believes the generosity of this community is being "tested" after the Judy and Kevin affair, exacerbated by growing "economic inequality."
According to Macgarry, while people better off economically are better placed to weather such disasters, vulnerability to the effects of twin hurricanes is most pronounced in poorer communities, where many live in rural areas. "The most vulnerable are those who live in makeshift houses ... They lost their houses and their property was destroyed. ”
UNICEF's Eric Dupyle said it was "crazy" to have so many disasters in a short period of time.
"Vanuatu is used to natural disasters, but I think this is the first time two cyclones have come in quick succession." Du Pine said.
Just after midnight last Monday, Macgarrie tweeted in Port Vila: "Power is recovering, but slowly. ”
These natural disasters come at a time when Vanuatu is spearheading the response to global climate change. Sitting on the Pacific Ocean "Ring of Fire," Vanuatu experiences frequent volcanic and seismic activity. Due to rising sea levels, Vanuatu faces the same existential risks as other Pacific islands.
According to the 2018 communiqué outlined by the Pacific Islands Forum, "climate change remains the greatest threat to the livelihoods, security and well-being of Pacific people".
Former Fijian Defense Minister Inya Seruilratu echoed the same sentiment last year, arguing that the danger of climate change in the region outweighs the geopolitical threat.
"The biggest threat to our survival is human-induced climate change. It threatens our hopes and dreams of prosperity. He said at the time.
Vanuatu's representative to the United Nations said last week that 105 countries, including Australia, had co-sponsored an application for the International Court of Justice to rule on countries' legal obligations to address climate change. The UN General Assembly vote, likely later this year, will seek formal advice from international legal bodies on what countries' legal obligations are in addressing climate change.
For the people of Vanuatu, the struggle in the aftermath of Hurricane Judy and Kevin continues.
"Health centres, hospitals and schools will all be affected. Some children may take weeks or even months to return to school. Dickinson Tvey, secretary general of the Vanuatu Red Cross, said.
In the face of the growing climate crisis, long after the hurricanes have disappeared, the people of Vanuatu still need to rely on all their resilience to overcome this threat.
(Dehran Brennan is a Melbourne writer specialising in politics and indigenous affairs in Australia and the Indo-Pacific.)
Brennan
Source: Vanuatu Travel Official Account
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