Survivors of Cyclone Pam

Journalist Koroi Hawkins has been travelling Vanuatu’s Shepherd Islands, viewing first-hand the devastation left by Cyclone Pam.

When I started out on this trip, one week after Cyclone Pam hit, I expected to write about horrific conditions and destruction, or report on delays and inefficiencies in the relief effort. When I reached the islands, what I found was real people.

With the pictures and stories that follow, I hope to introduce you to some of the Shepherd Islanders who, like thousands of others in this country, have been hurt badly by Cyclone Pam.

TAKING STOCK – NO WATER, NO FOOD, NO MEDICINE

Rachel Malas, Naomi Charlie and Young Joycelyn were sitting in what little shade they could find, staring at the destruction around them.

Little Joycelyn, whose kindy was destroyed by Pam, was shy and maybe a little scared of the camera.

Naomi, on the far left, had just returned from Vila to be with her mother after a long absence. I found out later her mother had just been buried the day before. She died from injuries sustained during cyclone Pam and had waited for medical assistance for six days.

Water, food and shelter are still critical needs on Mataso Island.

CHILDREN OF THE STORM

These children on Mataso Island are lucky to be alive. Their parents and guardians sheltered them in tiny gaps in the rocks on the hillsides when houses started to come apart.

Nine of these children were saved by one man who placed them in one such rocky refuge and shielded the entrance with his body.

BABY BOY WONDER

I snapped a photo of this lovely baby boy because unlike the other children he was not shy and kept trying to grab the lens.

The next day, on nearby Emae Island, I met the baby's family members, who were grief-stricken at having had no news of the fate of their relatives.

I showed them the pictures, and they all gathered around excitedly pointing at various relatives. When they reached the baby's photo they tut-tutted because apparently the baby's father had been in Vila during the cyclone.

When we left Mataso on Saturday there were no medical supplies or proper shelters on the island.

CYCLONE PLAYGROUND

Amid all the destruction and chaos, the kids on Mataso seemed able to find fun things to do. These lads found a coconut trunk blown over but still a few feet off the ground and converted it into their seesaw/trampoline, and were happily bouncing up and down on it when I walked past.

CRITICAL MEDICAL CONDITION

This was the man who reportedly saved nine children during the cyclone by pushing them between gaps in the rocks and protecting them with his body.

His feet were badly cut and starting to turn septic. Dr Jimmy was very worried about him and the next day was able to request a helicopter medivac.

On Sunday, while spending the night in Emae, I was showing photos to some people and they said the man's son was staying them. He came over and seemed really happy to see his dad but a little distressed as to his condition, so I reassured him that his father would be okay.

MIRACLE SURVIVAL

Tessi and Sakaio Cook insisted I come into their home, one of only two left standing on Mataso, so they could show me where they sat out the cyclone holding hands and praying throughout the night.

The wind tore at their little shack, ripping off parts of the roof, but never fully demolished it.

They told me that when the wind started to pick up on the Friday of the cyclone, they told people to save the children, before taking shelter under this bench.

People on the island said they were surprised the house survived the cyclone given many stronger buildings were destroyed.

REUNION AFTER THE STORM

Sakaio Cook, a proud and thankful grandfather, stands in the doorway of his house, one of only two on Mataso that survived cyclone Pam, with daughter Leimas carrying baby Margaret, and grandchildren Leika in the Vanuatu dress (green, yellow and red), Rexson in the green shirt and Ellen in the blue shirt.

The children's father, John Mataasi, the island nurse, had gone to Vila the day before with some critically ill patients.

His small health aid post was smashed to bits by Pam.

*Koroi Hawkins is a reporter for Radio New Zealand International. A version of this story was first published on radionz.co.nz.