Red Cross disaster response co-ordinator Douglas Clark (71) made that comment yesterday, after returning to his Dunedin home after spending three weeks in Vanuatu.
As a member of the Field Assessment and Co-ordination Team (Fact), he went to that country, ravaged by Cyclone Pam, to assess the damage and determine what was needed.
In 15 years with the group, he has responded to 12 Pacific emergency missions.
New Zealand had responded positively to the latest emergency, both through money donated by the public to the Red Cross, and the New Zealand Government's support, he said in an interview.
He flew to Vanuatu mid-last month on board an RNZAF C130 Hercules which was bringing Red Cross relief supplies, including water containers, tarpaulins and kitchen sets, from the organisation's Auckland warehouse.
His trip had been an intense experience and he spent much of his day making damage assessments, writing daily reports, and averaging about five hours sleep a day.
Some of the worst cyclone damage he saw was at the island of Tanna, where he said trees as well as crops had been ''shredded'' by the high winds.
Half of the houses on the island - about 150km south of the Vanuatu capital Port Vila - had lost their roofs and at least 10% of houses were destroyed. Nevertheless, he was impressed by the resilience of Vanuatu's citizens, who were already working hard to rebuild their lives.
A ''double whammy'' had resulted from heavy damage to fruit and vegetable crops on Efate, Vanuatu's most populous island, and home to Port Vila.
The crop losses meant there was less food to eat for farmers and their families and they could not sell food at the
market.
The country's neediest citizens were worst affected overall, and could least afford crucial items, such as building materials for roofing.
By the end of Mr Clark's mission, at Easter weekend, more than 20,000 people had been reached by Red Cross activities on 14 islands.
The Red Cross Regional Appeal, which included less damage to four other Pacific countries also affected by Tropical Cyclone Pam, has raised just under $NZ8 million.
