Sydney, Australia, 17 March 2015: Thousands of children in cyclone-ravaged Vanuatu are in desperate need of safe water, following the destruction of local water supplies and sanitation facilities by Tropical Cyclone Pam.
With wind gusts reaching up to 320kmph, Pam is one of the strongest cyclones ever to hit the South Pacific, leaving at least 24 people dead, thousands of homes, schools and buildings damaged or destroyed and an estimated 3,300 people displaced.
ChildFund Australia has launched an emergency appeal to help provide safe water and sanitation facilities for affected children and their families. ChildFund is partnering with Live & Learn Vanuatu, a child-focused organisation that has been operating in Vanuatu for many years, to respond to this disaster and ensure children are protected.
“One of the main concerns now is to restore clean water to help ensure the health of children in cyclone-ravaged areas,” said ChildFund Australia CEO Nigel Spence. ‘”Contaminated water can contain diseases such as cholera, which causes severe diarrhoea and can lead to death.
“ChildFund is working with Live & Learn to restore water systems and sanitation facilities in schools and to protect and support children in Vanuatu whose lives are in upheaval as a result of this disaster.”
On Efate Island, where the capital Port Vila is located, an estimated 90 per cent of structures are either damaged or destroyed. Shefa, Tafea, Malampa and Penama are emerging as the worst impacted areas, although Shefa remains the only province declared an emergency.
Anjali Nelson, an Australian aid worker based in Port Vila, is a technical advisor with Live & Learn Vanuatu and part of the team currently conducting assessments.
“The situation in Vanuatu is unfolding,” said Ms Nelson. “While the main centre of Port Vila has been reconnected to the water supply, there are many communities in the surrounding areas that still have no access to water, and sanitation is a huge issue for these people. We expect things are even worse in other areas. Priorities may change as more information becomes known, particularly from the outer islands.”
Donations made to ChildFund Australia’s emergency appeal will help ensure restoration of safe, clean drinking water. Donations will help:
- Reconstruct damaged water tanks to restore safe water supply.
- Rebuild sanitation facilities to help contain disease and prevent it from spreading.
- Provide water purification tablets as a temporary measure to prevent illness.
- Educate children on hygiene and sanitation awareness.
Young Australians overwhelmingly view ‘fairness’ as our most important national value (42 per cent), well ahead of second-placed ‘mateship’ (28 per cent), according to new Galaxy research released today.
But this iconic Australian characteristic is under threat with less than one in three Gen Ys (29 per cent) believing Australia is a fairer nation today than it was five years ago.
As a globally connected generation, Gen Ys say Australia is no longer acting fairly on the world stage, with nearly half (45 per cent) agreeing that it is unfair that Australian aid has been cut to its lowest level ever.
University students in Sydney will be invited to back their personal commitment to a fair go today when the Campaign for Australian Aid launches its Fair Share food truck.
Students who visit the Fair Share food truck will be invited to pay what they think is fair for a meal of authentic Southeast Asian cuisine.
The street-style food will be served by former winner of MasterChef and UNICEF Ambassador Adam Liaw, and will showcase the key role Australian aid plays in expressing Australians’ commitment to a fair go internationally.
“Asking uni students to pay what they think is fair for a meal is brave – it will be a great test of our understanding of fairness and an interactive way for young Aussies to participate in the Campaign for Australian Aid,” Mr Liaw said.
Following today’s launch at the University of New South Wales, the Fair Share food truck will be visiting other universities and public venues in Sydney, Canberra and Melbourne over the coming weeks.
The truck isn’t just about great food, though. It is a catalyst for an innovative campaign by Australian aid organisations that taps into our national sense of fairness, and poses a strong challenge to continuous cuts to the Australian aid budget. The campaign aims to build greater understanding and support for Australian aid by showcasing its effectiveness in countries around the world.
“As Australians, through Australian aid, we have played a key part in one of the greatest success stories of our time. In the last 20 years we’ve been part of an international effort that has now halved the number of people living in extreme poverty. It’s not something that we see or hear about very often, but we’ve helped to make the world a fairer place for all, and that’s something we can be very proud of,” World Vision chief executive Tim Costello said when introducing the Campaign for Australian Aid.
“We believe that through this grassroots campaign we can encourage all Australians to stand up for what they believe is fair; and rally together to continue the great work that we do, helping people living in poor communities to build a fairer future.”
While young Australians may feel that Australia is becoming less fair, they hold out hope for a fairer future and believe that we can make a difference for those who need it most.
Today’s Galaxy Poll shows Gen Y want to see Australian aid deliver better access to healthcare (59 per cent), education (56 per cent), and clean water (49 per cent) for all.
Mr Costello added it was reassuring to see young people valuing such important work around the world.
“As a nation, we value fairness more than any other Australian attribute. We want to be known for fairness, and Australian aid is a powerful expression of our belief in a fair go for all.”
Stand up for one of our greatest national accomplishments and join the conversation. #australianaid
ChildFund Australia CEO Nigel Spence is available for comment.
About the research
This study was conducted online among a representative sample of Australians aged 18-34 years. The sample was 502 respondents, distributed throughout Australia including both capital city and non-capital city areas.
About the Campaign For Australian Aid
Campaign for Australian Aid is a joint initiative of the Make Poverty History and Micah Challenge coalitions, for all Australians who believe we can and should do more as a nation to end extreme poverty around the world.
