Ambae evacuees

Vanuatu ministers meet with chiefs, landowners over Ambae relocation

The Ambaeans were moved there because of the erupting Manaro volcano.

The Daily Post reports Maewo chiefs are opposed to the government buying land for the Ambaeans to settle on.

Foreign Minister Ralph Regenvanu said the chiefs of Maewo want custom adoption to enable the evacuees to be adopted into their respective tribes.

     

The future of evacuees Ambae in Vanuatu remains uncertain

The eruption of the Manaro Volcano displaced thousands with some people moving to Maewo, Santo and Port Vila.

Earlier this week there were calls for the prime minister to resign over the handling of the Ambae evacuees.

It's been a very difficult time for those who have left, according to the vice president of the Vanuatu Red Cross, Hannington Alatoa, who is from Ambae.

Volcano evacuees in Port Vila await return to Ambae

The Vanuatu Daily Post reports 566 evacuees in Port Vila were issued with National ID Cards which will be used to repatriate the people to Ambae in the north of the country.

Ships and planes have been repatriating the bulk of those displaced who'd been evacuated to the neighbouring islands of Santo, Maewo and Pentecost.

Meanwhile the National Disaster Management Office is working with Ambae's disaster committee to care for over 7000 returnees.

Reports from the island say volcanic ash or sand was still falling and threatening water supplies.

Food donation for Ambae evacuees

The handover took place at the National Disaster Management Office headquarters yesterday.

Territory Manager, Krishneel Lingam said that, “on behalf of Nestle Fiji, CJ Patel (Pacific) Ltd and Viti Foods Ltd, we are happy to provide relief assistance to the Ambae volcano victims who are now being repatriated back to their home island.”

According to a report on Yumi Tok Tok Stret, the donation comprised 200 cartons of Maggi Noodles and 150 cartons of Angel Gold Fiji Mackerel which are the favorite household brands for noodles and canned fish.

Specialised help for Ambae evacuees with disabilities

Motivation Australia and its Ni-Vanuatu partners have been working to help get mobility aids to those that need it - so far, they've identified almost three hundred people who need additional support.

Motivation Australia's Vanuatu Project Officer, Claire Ibell says they are now working to provide mobility devices and wheelchairs before the islanders head back home.

Santo schools open doors to Ambae evacuees

Two and a half thousand children from Ambae are among the nearly eight-thousand evacuees on the island of Santo who are in camps in and around the island's main town Luganville.

A provincial government official Jacques Tronquet said half of the children were at secondary level and they started at local schools on Monday.

He said most of the primary students would have to wait a bit longer.

NZ provides additional support for Vanuatu

It said it is continuing to work with the government of Vanuatu and other partners to support the response.

A total of US$420,000 is being given to New Zealand non-government organisations to work with partners in Vanuatu to provide on-the-ground assistance with US$80,000 going towards the Vanuatu's government's response effort.

Foreign minister Gerry Brownlee said New Zealand's total contribution so far is just under $NZ1 million ($US970,000) in addition to technical assistance and supplies already provided.

 

NZ jobs vital for evacuated seasonal workers on Vanuatu's Ambae island

More than 11,000 people were being moved to the islands of Pentecost, Maewo and Santo when eruption of the Manaro Voui volcano was at its height.

Robin Tuku represents some 50 seasonal workers from the western side of Ambae who've financed homes, small businesses and community projects with their New Zealand earnings.

He said their families could be away from the island for up to a year and the workers wanted to return to New Zealand so they could defray the extra expenses involved with the evacuation.

Vanuatu PM promises evacuees they will return home

Mr Salwai visited evacuation centres in Penama and Sanma provinces yesterday where more than 11,000 people have been taken since the Manaro Voui volcano began belching ash and smoke over a fortnight ago.

The last boatloads were due to arrive at the islands of Maewo, Pentecost and Espiritu Santo yesterday, and they potentially face months away from home.

Disaster authorities are being assisted by French, Australian and New Zealand defence personnel and various international NGOs who have brought tonnes of relief supplies.

Ambae evacuees face months away from home

More than 11,000 men, women and children have been relocated to three nearby islands: Maewo, Pentecost and the majority - about 7000 - to Espiritu Santo.

The last boatloads of evacuees Ambae were due to land in Espiritu Santo on Wednesday.

Reports from Port Vila are that volcanologists are cautiously optimistic the worst of the Manaro eruption is over, but even if it does calm down the people of Ambae may not be allowed back to their island home for another three months.