Aussies lead Salvos response to earthquake in Vanuatu
BY SIMONE WORTHING
Two Australian Salvo workers – Major Darren Elsley and Daryl Crowden – are assisting in the South Pacific island nation of Vanuatu after a magnitude 7.3 earthquake struck near the coast on 17 December.
The earthquake, with its epicentre approximately 1750km east of Australia, lasted around 17 seconds and destroyed about half of the buildings in Vanuatu’s capital, Port Vila. The CBD will not be operational for some time.
“About 80,000 people are estimated to be affected, with the government confirming 14 fatalities,” said Daryl, National General Manager - Salvation Army Emergency Services (SAES), who is leading The Salvation Army’s response, with support from the Australia Territory and International Headquarters.
“Over 265 injured people have been treated at the main Vila Central Hospital.
“Since the 17 December earthquake, there have been several aftershocks of varying but strong intensities, with a 6.1 magnitude aftershock in the early hours of 22 December.
“Hospitals are overwhelmed, and the infrastructure is severely affected with limited access to clean water, so waterborne diseases are likely to spread.”
To donate to The Salvation Army Australia Earthquake Response Appeal, click here.
Daryl has been the SAES General Manager since July 2023, after returning from many years of overseas experience with World Vision, Medical Teams International and The Salvation Army International Emergency Services (IES). He continues to play an active role with the IES.
Darren is the Remote and Rural Chaplain in Far West NSW and is also part of IES. He worked in Vanuatu following Cyclone Pam in 2015. Prior to his current chaplaincy role, he oversaw The Salvation Army community in Tagabe, just outside Port Vila, when he was the Tweed Heads Corps Officer.
Daryl and Darren arrived in Vanuatu on 26 December. Before establishing their program, they will conduct needs/gaps assessments and network with other agencies.
Upon arrival, “I received many hugs and kisses,” Darren shared. “It’s been nearly two years since my last visit, which I had thought would be my last, as I no longer have an appointed role here. My first visit to Vanuatu was in 2013, and a year later, we accepted three senior, and 25 junior soldiers, and many others since. Three congregations had been planted across three islands. So it’s been quite a journey with these beautiful and faithful people. They have endured a lot, including several natural disasters.
“We immediately went to The Salvation Army outpost in Tagabe to check in on the welfare of our soldiers and Salvation Army friends,” Darren continued. “The Salvation Army community were very relieved and happy to see us. Their faith remains strong. They continue to meet together regularly for prayer, worship and to share meals together (sounds like the church in Acts 2, doesn't it!). They continue to proclaim that God is good – all the time, even amidst crises.
“We then spent Saturday connecting with NGOs, such as World Vision, to get a general overview of the situation and gather intelligence to inform our appropriate response. World Vision have been making use of the Army’s worship shelter to offer psychosocial care.
“It was a privilege to worship at The Salvation Army yesterday (30 December). At the foot of the surrounding hills, now scarred by landslides caused by the earthquake, we were welcomed with hugs and kisses, and, after the service, a tray of fresh tropical fruit. The no-frills, unpretentious, genuine worship in the open air surrounded by beautiful greenery concluded with members sharing their stories and together singing, ‘You are so faithful to me, I give you all the glory and the honour’.”
Daryl shared that the greatest impact being reported in the Tagabe community (and across the Island (Efate) is psychosocial. “People are afraid. The aftershocks, of course, don’t help. Most households in that area have damage caused by a surface displacement of between 1.0 to 1.5 metres. At 21 Jump Street (the Salvos), a full 2500 litre water tank moved 1.5 metres on its concrete seating, ripping pipework aside and destroying hardware.”
But while residents of Vanuatu are used to natural disasters, one community member shared: “It’s usually cyclones, we have plenty of them, but we know when they’re coming, we can prepare for them, we know where they’ll hit, and after so many, we know pretty well what the damage will be – but this earthquake - there was [of course] no warning.
Darren explained that they “have attended to immediate building repairs and replacements that were required at the outpost. Our further response is still in the planning stages as we continue to meet with NGOs, government bodies, and cluster groups to better inform our most appropriate and effective response.”
Daryl said, “While we, The Salvation Army, are by no means a big player in this response, or bringing a huge budget to the ministry, over the next few weeks, we will be working with the Government of Vanuatu and other NGO actors to see what we can do to support our Salvo family and their neighbours in the Tagabe community.”
To donate to The Salvation Army Australia Earthquake Response Appeal, click here.
