Tanna Island

When the eye of Cyclone Pam passed over Tanna Island in Vanuatu it decimated it’s landscape and villages. Aid was getting through and the telco Digicel had begun to restore mobile phone service to the islands but during the mayhem of this vicious storm many people had their handset either destroyed or lost. The simple act of phoning loved ones in the outside world was impossible. So along with food packs, Digicel delivered free, ready to use phones so the villagers could make that precious call. The villagers were so patient and the excitement of finally being able to talk to their family and friends was palpable. Digicel asked me to photograph not just the devastation, but to capture what it means to be able to call and tell the world that you survived.