When Cyclone Pam hit Vanuatu five months ago, many of the country's modern buildings were destroyed or damaged beyond repair.
Traditional dwellings, called "Nimafiak", are being credited with keeping the death toll relatively low during one of the Pacific's strongest ever storms -- only 11 people were killed.
The National Disaster Management Office has been conducting surveys in outer islands, and is encouraging communities to rebuild using traditional methods.
Philip Meto is part of the NDMO team, and says while communities are keen to use these methods, a lot of the vegetation used for traditional buildings has been lost.
Source:
ABC