Resilience in the face of cyclones: testimony of a Kiwa on-grantee

In the wake of the recent tropical cyclone Lola in Vanuatu, the Southern and Southeast regions of Malekula, as well as other islands including Epi, Paama, Ambrym and Pentecost, experienced devastating impacts. These areas were categorized as “priority 1” for urgent government humanitarian response. Countless homes, gardens, farms, infrastructure, and schools suffered severe damage.

Even our local Kiwa project run by LAMACCA has not been spared, they find strength in resilience.

“Our LAMACCA Kiwa Office, along with all project equipment and materials, remained safe. LAMACCA's training hall and other community centers opened their doors as evacuation shelters. While the cyclone has moved on, some of our fellow community members still seek refuge in these centers due to their severely damaged homes. Fortunately, there have been no casualties reported at this time. We stand united, ready to recover, rebuild, and adapt. This is not our first encounter with cyclones, and it won’t be our last. We thank the Kiwa Initiative and IUCN Oceania team for the support and concern”, says Peter, the LAMACCA project leader and coordinator for the Kiwa project.

At the Kiwa Initiative®, we take pride in cultivating climate-resilient communities and facing the challenges of climate change head-on.
We extend our best wishes to all the communities in Vanuatu, particularly the LAMACCA team, collaborating with other organizations and mobilizing to work alongside provincial and national government agencies in recovery efforts.