Australia to provide more aid to Vanuatu as another earthquake strikes
Australia has announced more humanitarian aid to earthquake-hit Vanuatu on Sunday, as seismic activity continues to rattle the Pacific island nation.
The government flagged $5 million in “practical humanitarian assistance” following the quake on Tuesday which claimed the lives of 16 people, according to a statement from Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus, also the acting foreign minister.
Red Cross volunteers assist locals as they inspect their damaged house in Efate, Vanuatu.Credit: AP
The additional package follows $2 million in support announced last week to help the Vanuatu government’s emergency response, the government said.
A magnitude 7.3 earthquake struck the capital, Port Vila, on Tuesday, killing at least 16 people, injuring at least 200 and causing massive damage to the city and surrounding areas.
The latest tranche of Australian aid includes “$2.5 million for medical care for those injured, and to supply water, sanitation and hygiene products and services”.
Also, on Sunday, a magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck Vanuatu’s islands, the GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences said, revising up its original figure from 6.1. The quake struck at a depth of 10 kilometres, GFZ said.
Vanuatu prepared to reopen to arrivals as hundreds of Australians landed back on home soil on evacuation flights.
Australian aid workers assist locals in Vanuatu following Tuesday’s earthquake.Credit: DFAT
In total, 568 holidaymakers, workers and other returnees have arrived back in Australia via military airlifts delivering humanitarian aid since Wednesday.
Further RAAF planes landed in Brisbane from Port Vila overnight on Sunday carrying 144 passengers.
The latest flights followed Airports Vanuatu’s announcement that it would reopen Port Vila International Airport to commercial airline operations on Sunday, offering some hope for increased aid and recovery resources.
The Australian government is working with Qantas, Virgin and Jetstar to resume flights to the Pacific nation.
Qantas and Virgin are both operating Port Vila-Brisbane services on Sunday, and Jetstar is running a flight on the same route on Monday.
Two more final ADF flights from Vanuatu are planned for Sunday.
A magnitude 7.3 earthquake struck Port Vila on Tuesday, killing at least 16 people, injuring at least 200 and causing massive damage to the city and surrounding areas.
The number of deaths and injuries is expected to rise as search and rescue operations continue.
A potential health crisis also looms as aid workers believe about 20,000 people on the island cannot access clean water.
Brecht Mommen, a water, sanitation and hygiene specialist with Vanuatu-based UNICEF, warned illness would probably spread.
The extent of damage to Port Vila’s water infrastructure remains unclear, with repair timelines uncertain.
The latest RAAF flights delivered 9.5 tonnes of emergency relief supplies on behalf of Red Cross, UN World Food Program, CARE, Save the Children and World Vision.
About 1000 people are estimated to have been displaced, according to the United Nations.
With AP, Reuters
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