Further support for Vanuatu

  • Media release

I am pleased to announce that Australia will provide additional support to the long-term recovery of Vanuatu from Tropical Cyclone Pam, the most powerful cyclone ever recorded in Vanuatu.

Cyclone Pam caused severe damage to housing, health centres, schools and other critical infrastructure in affected areas, and to Vanuatu's key industries of tourism and agriculture.

Australia provided an early life-saving package of more than $10 million, including deployment of disaster response, medical and search and rescue teams.

We provided a further $5 million to support Vanuatu's early recovery needs in health, education and food security.

Australia will provide an additional $35 million long-term recovery package, developed in consultation with the Vanuatu Government. It will help to:

  • support livelihoods, economic recovery and the private sector;
  • repair and rebuild critical public infrastructure;
  • restore health and education facilities; and
  • support gender and disability inclusion.

This contribution brings Australia's total cyclone-related assistance for Vanuatu to more than $50 million.

The economic impact of Cyclone Pam has been calculated as equivalent to 64 per cent of GDP. Vanuatu will need the ongoing assistance of its friends and partners to support its long-term recovery.

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