A state of emergency remains in effect across the island nation, with a seven-day curfew from dusk to dawn in parts of Port Vila due to end on December 24. The road leading to the port is also reported to be closed.
The second earthquake has raised concerns, and further updates on its impact are awaited, including the re-opening of Port Vila airport to commercial flights.
Human needs
As of Saturday night (local time), more than 80,000 people have been affected by Tuesday’s earthquake, and nearly 1,700 people have temporarily left their homes. Eleven evacuation centers are sheltering more than 1,200 people, with some staying with participating households.
Urgent needs include access to clean water, food and health care, as communities face increased risks of water-borne diseases.
Health services are also reportedly strained, with the Vanuatu Central Hospital (VCH) in need of critical medical supplies and coordinated surgical support to address critical gaps.
Source: UNOCHA
Impact of the Vanuatu earthquake in Shefa province (as of 21 December 2024).
Combined answer
In response to the growing crisis, a humanitarian flight coordinated by the UN World Food Program (WFP)’s Pacific Humanitarian Air Service (PHAS) arrived in Port Vila on Saturday, bringing surgical teams from UN agencies, humanitarian partners and aid agencies.
Organizations including the World Health Organization (WHO), the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) are working with national authorities to support the response.
UNFPA set up maternity tents at VCH, while UNICEF set up four tents to manage the overflow of patients and deployed child protection teams to support families and health workers.
UNICEF also brought water bladder tanks to VCH to ensure continued access to clean water.
WFP has deployed emergency communications experts to restore disrupted communications networks that are critical to coordinating relief efforts. It also works with the National Disaster Management Office (NDMO) and partners to assess food security needs.
Additionally, the UN Satellite Center (UNOSAT) conducts satellite-based damage assessments to guide resource allocation and prioritize affected areas.
Our humanitarian partners, including Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), are also providing real aid and national response teams.
Timely feedback is essential
Alpha Bah, Director of the WFP Pacific Multi-Country Office, based in Fiji, emphasized the need for a timely response to the affected families.
“We are saddened by the loss of life and destruction of property caused by this earthquake. This concerted effort is essential to ensure that people affected by the earthquake receive timely and essential assistance,” he said.
“WFP is committed to supporting NDMO and other national institutions, too we will continue to strengthen our efforts to strengthen Vanuatu’s response to this crisis.”
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