Extra $35m in Australian aid for Vanuatu

CANBERRA – The Australian Government has committed an extra A$35 million of aid to help with the cyclone recovery effort in Vanuatu.

Infrastructure in the country was badly damaged by Cyclone Pam, which killed at least 11 people when it crossed the country’s islands in March.

It damaged houses, health centres and schools and has resulted in losses in the country’s tourism and agricultural sectors.

Foreign Affairs Minister Julie Bishop said in a statement the latest funding was a long-term recovery package, developed in consultation with Vanuatu’s government.

She said it will help to support livelihoods, economic recovery and the private sector, and repair and rebuild critical public infrastructure.

The funding would also restore health and education facilities, and support gender and disability inclusion, the statement said.

A spokesman for global charity Save the Children, Mat Tinkler, said the extra money would help local communities to rebuild.

“The Australian Government had committed around $15 million to date and they’ve committed an additional $35 million now, so that brings to a total of $50 million which is a substantial amount, and much-needed for the people of Vanuatu to rebuild,” he said.

“This money will go a long way to help rebuild some of that critical infrastructure, schools, roads, help get people’s lives and businesses back on track to allow them to plant new crops, and also help support really important services like health facilities for people.”

A Government statement said 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,” the Government said.