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Prime Minister, Sariboh Charlot Salwai Tabimasmas says government’s direct assistance that begun immediately after Cyclone Pam will continue for another 18 months.
A communique released on the first anniversary of Cyclone Pam yesterday March 13, said the first phase of the response was the delivery of life saving and humanitarian assistance, which is now completed.
The second phase of the response is a two-year recovery and economic strengthening programme which started in August 2015 and is now reaching full speed. At the same time the Government is also reviewing its disaster management policies and practices to ensure that in future it is well prepared to respond to future disasters.
Prime Minister Sariboh Salwai Tabimasmas said as well as government’s own food and water distributions immediately following the cyclone, and which were the first assistance delivered, Vanuatu received considerable and welcome international assistance. The NDMO coordinated the assistance, supported by UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Assistance (OCHA).
By late April last year, the National Disaster Management Office (NDMO) and the OCHA reported that all affected people had received emergency food distributions while more than 21,000 people had received emergency supplies of safe drinking water, and over 26,000 people had benefited from the repair of water supply systems. Almost 45,500 people have been reached with hygiene and sanitation distributions and some 67,500 people have received tarpaulin sheets, 55,000 were reached with tool kits to begin rebuilding their homes, almost 43,000 have received kitchen sets and another 92,500 were provided with blankets.
The NDMO and OCHA record also shows medical teams had provided direct health assistance and treated almost 9,700 patients; and emergency health kits provided enough emergency medications and supplies to reach 35,000 people with basic primary care, 30,000 people with secondary care and 30,000 women with emergency obstetric care for three months. Also were 153 Temporary Learning Spaces established allowing children to return to school.
Emergency telecommunications partners helped the Government to restore internet access and damaged internal networks in order to communicate with the affected people in eight locations.
Some in the private sector also made generous contributions.
According to the communique, by July 2015, over USD 20 million in assistance had been received, and that money not used by then was then utilised to fund carry over programs while the recovery and economic strengthening program came on line.
With regard to the recovery and economic strengthening phase, the communique said while the humanitarian response was in full swing, the Government commenced planning to support recovery and economic strengthening.
In July 2015 it announced a two-year program of activities intended to deliver improved infrastructure and social services, and to promote the domestic private sector. The program is named ‘strengthening ni-Vanuatu Resilience’ in recognition of the deep knowledge of our people and their resolve in times of adversity, which has sustained them in the past, helped them respond extraordinarily well to Pam and will ensure they cope well with future disasters.
It also recognised that the Government can support people in difficult times, and is committed to doing that. Setting up a program like this takes time and effort, which is now paying off as the Government can announce a number of new projects that are starting and also point to some more in the pipeline. In the 100 day plan getting these projects underway is a key commitment, and delays in delivering assistance to people who need it are not acceptable.
The Prime Minister said he has now appointed a Parliamentary Secretary, the Hon. Johnny Koanapo Rasou, to take responsibility to speed up the program to deal with the most needed areas or sectors severely affected.
The government has also listed projects that were approved and gotten underway. They include:
WASH Rehabilitation and Sector Strengthening (VT187.3m, MFAT)
Tourism Recovery Marketing Campaign (VT182.6m, DFAT/MFAT/GoV)
Health Sector Infrastructure and Equipment Recovery Program (VT552.5m, DFAT)
Health Sector Recovery Program Management (Staff Supplementation) (VT12.8m, DFAT)
Health Sector HAP-rollover Projects (VT153.2m, various)
Newly approved projects that are ready for implementation are curriculum materials and equipment replacement (VT137m, MFAT); Restoration and refurbishment of Malvatumauri Chiefs Nakamal, Port Vila (VT23.8m, various); Road reconstruction (USD$18.5m, Asian Development Bank); Schools reconstruction (USD5m, Asian Development Bank); and Basket Blong Sapotem KomunitiKamap (BSK) 14 Small Projects (VT49m, MFAT)
Further projects being developed and which the Government expects to make announcements on soon are:
Recovery of Water Supply System
Water Sector Recovery Program Management (Staff Supplementation)
Reconstruction of Schools
Return to livelihoods and increased production opportunities (Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries, Forestry and Biosecurity)
Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries, Forestry and Bio-Security Sector Recovery Program Management (Staff Supplementation)
Tanna Tourism Recovery
Post Pam Mini Census and Baseline Recovery Survey
Repair, rebuild and upgrade of Teouma Bridge, South Efate
SPC Recovery Project including various activities: Maritime and Aids to Navigation, Coordination of Domestic Water Supply Recovery, Strengthening Emergency Communications, Food Supply for Food Security (Fisheries & Agriculture) , Support for Health Services, Relief Shipping Services to Outer Islands, Energy Supply to Remote Islands, Multi Hazard Mapping and Rebuilding production
The Government says it will continue to explore ways in which it can increase the amount of funds available for the recovery, and is looking at lending options and engagement with potential donors.
The Government, through the prime minister thanked all donor partners (whether Governments or international organizations), local organizations and companies, the people and the residents of Vanuatu for their financial, material and moral support towards the rebuilding of our nation.
He also appealed to all relevant Ministries and line agencies to concentrate on their commitments to deliver assistance to communities and people who are still in need. He said that further delays in the process of recovery and economic strengthening phase are not acceptable.