Round-up: Updates from Vanuatu and Serbia

The Round-up offers a weekly sample of what our sister Red Cross Societies are working on around the world.

VANUATU: One year ago, Cyclone Pam tore through the Pacific Island Nation of Vanuatu. The Category Five storm left immense damage in its wake affecting more than 200,000 people across five Preparing communities for future disasters has been a key component of recovery effortscountries. Although Vanuatu bore the brunt of the disaster, Tuvalu, Kiribati, the Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea were also severely impacted. Across all countries, Red Cross volunteers have been engaged in a range of recovery programs ranging from safe-shelter training to restoration of household water harvesting systems and education and awareness in good health and hygiene practices to prevent the spread of disease. Preparing communities for future disasters has been a key component of recovery efforts and the IFRC has pre-positioned disaster preparedness stocks for approximately 1,774 households across all the countries affected by Cyclone Pam. Relief goods such as jerry cans to collect clean water, pots and pans for cooking and tarpaulins for shelter have been placed in strategic locations across the region. 

SERBIA: Hundreds of people have been forced to leave their homes after severe flooding hit western Serbia. Emergency teams from the Red Cross of Serbia have been working across the municipalities of Lučani, Čačak, Arilje and Pozega where schools have been shut, roads closed and dozens of homes evacuated. They are delivering food and emergency supplies to hundreds of families using boats to reach the worst-hit villages and towns.  The Red Cross of Serbia has provided supplies for more than 3,000 people so far and is preparing to scale up its response. The Red Cross has also sent a 10-member rescue and recovery team from its national headquarters in Belgrade, as well as two pumps to help clear the water from homes and buildings.

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