Bangkok, Thailand, March 18, 2015 – The AVC has sent the Vanuatu Volleyball Federation condolences, expressing its deepest sympathy to all volleyball families and the victims affected by the devastating Cyclone Pam.

The AVC President Dr Saleh A. Bin Nasser said in the letter sent to Vanuatu on Wednesday, “My deepest condolences for the destruction and loss of life caused by the severe Tropical Cyclone Pam. The scale and power of the forces unleashed on Vanuatu are hard to comprehend and the images that we have seen are terrifying. It is such a difficult moment for the nation.

“Our heart has been filled with pain and sorrow for people of Vanuatu and volleyball families in particular affected by this devastating calamity. I truly hope that the danger will be contained soon. We hope and pray that you will find peace and comfort in these hard times,” the AVC President added.

Severe Tropical Cyclone Pam hit Vanuatu late on March 13, packing wind gusts of up to 320 kilometers (200 miles) an hour, causing widespread damage in the archipelago nation in the South Pacific Ocean. The powerful storm had killed dozens, destroyed or damaged 90 percent of the buildings in the capital city Port Vila, and will force the nation to start anew. International aid agencies began emergency flights on Tuesday to some of the remote outer islands of Vanuatu, which they fear have been devastated.

Officials are warning that Vanuatu now faces imminent food shortages, as aid agencies described conditions as among the most challenging they have ever faced.

Vanuatu is one of the AVC’s affiliated member countries. Their women’s beach volleyball players have immensely shown superb performances in recent years, with talented Miller Elwin pairing Linline Matauatu to capture the 2014 AVC Hong Kong Open as well as the 2014 Pattaya Challenger in Chon Buri, Thailand. Earlier, Miller Elwin teamed up with Iatika Henrlette to reign supreme in the 2014 AVC Khanom Open in Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand.