An American law lecturer working in cyclone-ravaged Vanuatu says he is astounded at the optimism shown by locals whose houses have been "wiped from the face of the earth".
Dr Wes Kendall, who works at the University of the South Pacific, said Cyclone Pam only caused relatively minor damage to his own home at Port Vila when it tore through the region on Friday.
His close friend, however, lives in a nearby village of 3000 people who have lost everything.
"His house was wiped from the face of the earth," Dr Kendall told ABC Radio on Monday.
"His house was a corrugated metal shack ... it's gone, as the rest of his village."
Dr Kendall said despite the loss, his friend arrived on his doorstop on Saturday morning to ask what he could do to help.
His friend then whistled cheerfully as he and his family then spent eight hours clearing fallen trees and debris from Dr Kendall's house.
"I offered him half of my pantry which he adamantly refused," Dr Kendall said.
"At the end he accepted two tins of tuna and I haven't seen him since."
He said he believed the Vanuatuan people's faith helped them maintain hope.
"(My friend) said his home was taken by the hand of God and that God will return his house and living," he said.
"I think they have a kind of a blithe sense of optimism ... he has faith that help will come and I hope it will."
Dr Kendall said it was difficult to get a true sense of the devastation as communication with outlying islands was still almost impossible.
He said this made it hard to determine what aid was immediately crucial.
"We really don't know the extent of damage at this point, so I think it's almost speculative about what's needed."
The RAAF flew supplies in from Brisbane on the weekend.
Share
