Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea: In the wake of Cyclone Pam, the United States Government immediately issued disaster declarations from U.S. Embassy Port Moresby. The U.S. Government will continue to work closely with NGO partners and other nations to deliver relief assistance and to identify the most effective ways to immediately help those people most affected by the devastation wrought by Cyclone Pam.

A U.S. disaster relief team arrived in Port Vila, Vanuatu on Monday, March 16. Personnel from the U.S. Agency for International Development’s (USAID) Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA) are assessing the damage and devastation. The team will identify the best methods for providing disaster assistance and how the United States can best help the people of Vanuatu.

The Government of the United States continues its support for the people of Vanuatu, as well as those affected in Solomon Islands, following the destruction wrecked by Cyclone Pam. The U.S. Government would like to again express its condolences to the families who lost loved ones due to the cyclone or who have been affected by the cyclone’s devastation.

U.S. Ambassador Walter North determined that destruction by Cyclone Pam warranted immediate disaster assistance. Therefore, the United States is providing $100,000 in disaster relief funds for Vanuatu to help those people most seriously affected by Cyclone Pam. The funds will be provided to the French Red Cross in Vanuatu to help their efforts for immediate disaster relief. USAID’s OFDA team will work with the French Red Cross to distribute relief supplies, clean water, and will also further support other water and sanitation activities. The OFDA team will continue their disaster assessment to support relief decisions.