Vanuatu earthquake: Australian Medical Assistance Team dispatched from Darwin
“One of our most critical Western Pacific deployments in recent times”: Australia has sprung into action to assist its neighbour Vanuatu, with the NT contributing six AUSMAT medicos to respond to the deadly earthquake.
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Australia has sprung into action to aid its neighbour Vanuatu as the island nation grapples with a deadly earthquake that has killed 14 at the time of writing, with the Northern Territory contributing six medicos attached to the Australian Medical Assistance Team.
Vanuatu is reeling after a 7.3 magnitude earthquake levelled capital Port Vila and surrounds on Tuesday, followed by a 6.1 magnitude quake the following day, Wednesday.
At least 14 people have been confirmed dead, with the death toll expected to rise in coming days.
Hundreds are injured, overwhelming medical facilities, and a state of emergency, coupled with a week-long curfew, has been declared.
On Wednesday, the Australian Government announced it would accede to a request for assistance.
Urban search and rescue teams from Queensland Fire and Rescue and Fire and Rescue NSW, Australian Federal Police officers, a crisis response team from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and six Australian Medical Assistance Team (AUSMAT) officers from Darwin’s National Critical Care and Trauma Response Centre (NCCTRC) were all expected to be on the ground by Wednesday evening.
Seeing off the AUSMAT crew, which is flying on a CareFlight G150 jet, in Darwin, Professor Len Notaras, executive director of the NCCTRC, described it as a “critical day” for both Vanuatu and the centre.
“[This is] one of our most critical Western Pacific deployments in recent times,” he said.
“We hope to be able to assist very, very quickly, by the end of today.”
Professor Notaras said there was also a personal element to the mission, with the NCCTRC becoming “very close friends with Vanuatu” in recent years via its delivery of training and mentorship programs to local counterparts.
Centre director for disaster preparedness Kath McDermott, who is leading the mission, said the AUSMAT team would be at the service of the Vanuatu Ministry of Health.
“Part of our remit [is to make an] assessment of what the government needs,” she said.
“We’re expecting there will be a number of injuries.
“This deployment is happening very rapidly.”
She said the AUSMAT team would include a midwife, anaesthetist and emergency physicians.
They would be on the ground for an initial seven-day tour of duty, with the option to extend.
Treasurer Jim Chalmers, announcing the Australian Government response, said he expected the island nation of about 330,000 – an estimated one-third of whom have been affected by the earthquakes, according to the United Nations – to need further assistance.
“Australia and Vanuatu share a very deep, enduring partnership,” he said.
“We are family and we will be there for them in their time of need.”
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Originally published as Vanuatu earthquake: Australian Medical Assistance Team dispatched from Darwin
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