UK Pledges £2m To Deadly Cyclone Pam Victims

Winds of 210mph are feared to have killed dozens and flattened entire villages across the South Pacific archipelago of Vanuatu.

The UK is giving up to £2m in aid to help the Pacific archipelago of Vanuatu where a devastating tropical cyclone is feared to have flattened entire communities.

Cyclone Pam is thought to have caused widespread destruction across the 65 inhabited Vanuatu islands, killing at least eight people, aid officials have said.

Unconfirmed reports say dozens more people are feared dead after the storm, which is one of the strongest ever recorded.

Britain's Department for International Development said "up to £1m" will be made immediately available to UN organisations and international aid agencies already working in the region following a request from the Vanuatu government.

An additional £1m will be made available through the UK's Rapid Response Facility, which provides emergency support.

The Category Five storm struck the South Pacific archipelago with winds of up to 210mph, threatening more than 267,000 residents.

The storm blew roofs off houses, uprooted trees and downed power lines. Officials in the capital Port Vila say there is no power or running water.

Save the Children's Vanuatu Country Director Tom Skirrow added: "The scene here this morning is complete devastation.

Chloe Morrison, a World Vision emergency communications officer, said: "The damage is quite extensive in Port Vila but there are so many more vulnerable islands."

Vanuatu is about a quarter of the way from Australia to Hawaii. About 47,000 people live in the capital. Most of those left their homes for the safety of shelters.

Baldwin Lonsdale, the President of Vanuatu, said: "I stand to appeal on the behalf of the government and people of Vanuatu to the global community to give a lending hand in responding this very current calamities that have struck us."

Australia said it was preparing to send a crisis response team to Vanuatu if needed, Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said.

New Zealand donated a million NZ dollars and Save The Children launched an appeal for youngsters affected by the storm.

The cyclone had already destroyed some homes and caused damage to other Pacific islands including the Solomon Islands and Kiribati, 4,000km away from Vanuatu.

Although the UK does give regular aid to Vanuatu, according to the DfiD website, the country is a member of the Commonwealth.

International Development Secretary Justine Greening said: "All our thoughts are with the people of Vanuatu as they start to assess the full scale of this disaster.

"Our support will ensure relief agencies can provide temporary shelters; protect vulnerable people, especially women and children; and provide emergency supplies as the country responds to this emergency."