"Resilience. Fortitude. Positivity. All words to describe Vanuatu since Pam came."
This is the message from the New Zealand High Commissioner to the Republic of Vanuatu, Her Excellency Georgina Roberts on the one year anniversary of Tropical Cyclone Pam.
"Those of us who were here on 13 March 2015 will never forget the experience of TC Pam,” Roberts said.
“The sound of machetes and chainsaws revving into gear that first morning; the roar of the first C-17 with assistance flying in overhead; or watching the many, many people merge from the devastation and begin rebuilding their lives.”
Roberts said it was extremely humbling to stand shoulder to shoulder with ni-Vanuatu and other partners in the days immediately after Pam visited Vanuatu.
“One year on, we remember those whose lives were lost; look on how the landscape and environment has changed; reflect on what has been achieved; and look ahead to restoring this country.”
Sixteen people died and more than 3300 people were displaced when Cyclone Pam hit Vanuatu in March last year.
The cyclone was the most intense cyclone in 2015 and was regarded as Vanuatu’s worst natural disasters.