Additional assistance for cyclone response and early recovery in Vanuatu

The Australian Government will provide an additional $8 million (VT 655 million) to support the Vanuatu Government with its ongoing response to Tropical Cyclones Judy and Kevin.

These funds will provide immediate assistance to vulnerable households through support for livelihoods and food security, to be delivered through the Australian Humanitarian Partnership and the Vanuatu Skills Partnership.

Support will also go to Vanuatu’s early recovery priorities in the education and health sectors, including repairs to health facilities and schools and the replacement of curriculum materials and equipment lost to the cyclones.

It takes the Australian Government’s humanitarian response package to $12.5 million (VT 1 billion). Australia also deployed RAAF aircraft, a Rapid Assessment Team and HMAS Canberra, with 600 personnel and Chinook helicopters, to deliver humanitarian supplies and to assist the Vanuatu Government’s efforts.

Minister Conroy announced Australia’s additional support while in Vanuatu, where he visited one of the hardest hit areas of the country and heard from the local community about their priorities for recovery.

Quotes from Minister for International Development and the Pacific, Pat Conroy:

“It is incredibly moving to see the impact of the unprecedented back-to-back cyclones and to hear from those who’ve had their homes and community infrastructure destroyed.

“Australia is proud to stand with Vanuatu during this challenging time, to listen and to support Vanuatu’s response to these devastating cyclones – now and into the future.”