Some are convinced the cyclone that ravaged their country in March was nature's dramatic curtain-raiser to his arrival in 2016.

They believe Prince Philip will, at least, visit them and, at best, take up residence among them.

During a Royal Visit in 1974, a man named Chief Jack Naiva, was one of the paddlers of a war canoe that greeted the royal yacht Britannia at Port Vila.

He became convinced that Prince Philip was the descendant of a Tanna spiritual ancestor.

"I saw him standing on the deck in his white uniform," Chief Jack is on record as saying. "I knew then that he was the true messiah."

Prince Philip has exchanged gifts with the islanders, including sending them a signed portrait of himself.

Anthropologists say it is easy to mock the islanders' beliefs, which have commonly come to be called cargo cults.

Some scholars say is the people's way of coping the intrusion of colonisers on what for centuries was an undisturbed, traditional way of life.

Source

• telegraph.co.uk
• Image: express.co.uk

They say the cyclone, and subsequent aid, are a precursor to a major event that was foretold to take place next year.

The island of Tanna in Vanuatu is known for its peculiar set of new religious movements, including what are popularly known as cargo cults.

Cargo cult followers believe an adherence to American military protocols will bring back goods, equipment and a bountiful lifestyle that was in abundance during World War II.

Followers of the John Frum movement worship the man who promised a life of prosperity during the American military's presence on the island during the second world war.

They routinely raise a flag in the village and march with makeshift wooden rifles over their shoulders like the long-gone soldiers used to.

Tearfund worker, Andrew Finlay, came to Tanna in the wake of Cyclone Pam.

He says while the beliefs were hard for the western world to understand, their importance to the community should not be undervalued.

Source

• Stuff.co.nz
• Image: i0.wp.com/militaryhistorynow.com

Mitchell is the Humanitarian Programmes Coordinator for Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand.

"Despite all they have gone through they are simply getting on with the business of rebuilding their homes and livelihoods."

Mitchell has been in Vanuatu, as part of emergency relief efforts to get food and shelter to those most in need.

He has seen the devastation caused by Cyclone Pam firsthand.

After a short break with his family in Wellington at Easter, he will be returning to Vanuatu to continue his work.

Mitchell said that coordination of the response was going well.

The Caritas team are distributing 2,500 tarpaulins.

These tarpaulins provide temporary shelter for those worst affected by the cyclone while they begin the process of rebuilding.

Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand is appealing for donations to the Pacific Cyclone Relief fund.

The fund will be used to respond to immediate needs and help affected communities in Vanuatu rebuild their lives and livelihoods.

Read full press release

Source

• Supplied: Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand
• Image: Supplied Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand

"This fundraising was coordinated across West Papua by church groups in West Papua and the umbrella organisation, the United Liberation Movement for West Papua."

"The entire gathering was forcibly dispersed by armed Indonesian police who can be seen on a photo from the day, opening fire upon my people."

Wenda's press release was posted on the Free West Papua website on 21 March.

On 24 March, Wenda was detained by immigration officials when he arrived in Port Moresby.

He had flown from the United Kingdom and had planned to visit PNG before heading to Vanuatu for a meeting of the Melanesian Spearhead Group.

The office of Papua New Guinea's prime minister Peter O'Neill said Mr Wenda had arrived in the country without a visa.

A spokesman for Mr O'Neill said the West Papuan independence leader was not being deported, but he was "not permitted to enter the country".

"It's not a political issue, it's a visa issue," he said.

Source

• freewestpapua.org
• Radio Australia
• Image: freewestpapua

On Palm Sunday The Methodist church in Fiji collected a special donation to go towards their relief efforts for the people of Vanuatu, Tuvalu and Kiribati who are recovering from the onslaught of category five Tropical Cyclone Pam.

Palm Sunday in Fiji is also Children's Sunday.

In Methodist churches children usually dress in white and lead the worship. They are also give a good meal and gifts

According to UNICEF it is estimated that at least half the population of Vanuatu has been affected by cyclone Pam.

Of these, at least 54,000 are children.

Source

• The Fiji Times
• UNICEF
• Image:Facebook

"There's just no shelter, with so much having been blown away, and people will need somewhere to shelter while they rebuild."

Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand and Caritas Australia are leading a combined Caritas response helping to provide people in evacuation centres with food, water and other necessities.

The Diocese of Port Vila has also established a Disaster Committee to assess damage and plan a response, and Caritas partners report that a number of churches are being used as evacuation centres.

"In emergency situations such as this, the Church plays a valuable part in providing assistance to the most vulnerable communities," says Mark Mitchell, Humanitarian Programmes Coordinator for Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand.

Mitchell and Caritas Australia counterpart Stephanie Lalor went to Port Vila on Wednesday to help coordinate humanitarian relief efforts.

They have previously worked with the diocese on development and emergency preparedness projects.

Caritas organisations from around the world have also pledged their help and Caritas is appealing to the public for donations.

An initial $20,000 has been pledged by Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand through the Pacific Cyclone Relief Fund.

Donations to assist with the humanitarian response can be made by:

• Phoning 0800 22 10 22 to make credit card donations
• Donating online to Pacific Cyclone Relief Fund using a credit card at www.caritas.org.nz
• Text Pam to 833 to donate $3 to Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand
• Posting to Caritas, PO Box 12193, Thorndon, Wellington 6144, New Zealand

Source

• Supplied - Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand
• Image: Stuff.co.nz