Shefa Province

Authorities have reported that some 250,000 people were affected in the aftermath of the two cyclones this month.

This represents more than 80 per cent of the country’s population.

Officials of the SPGC and Oxfam in the Pacific on 19 March, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) as part of ongoing efforts to support the response.

The MoU was signed between the Assistant Secretary-General (SG) of SPGC, Liah Kaltoi and the Country Coordinator of Oxfam in Vanuatu, Anita Samana Jack.

In a country that has historically been the most vocal in support of West Papuan self-determination rights, Shefa province is the first authority in the country to officially recognise an independent West Papua government.

Wenda, a West Papuan pro-independence activist who fled persecution in his homeland under Indonesian control, was granted asylum in the United Kingdom in 2003.

A year ago, as the head of the United Liberation Movement for West Papua, Wenda announced that it was forming a 'Provisional Government' of West Papua, with him as the interim president.

  The council’s each received Vt19, 000.

The funds are part of the Vt350, 000 Independence Fund that the Government allocated to the province.

SHEFA Province Secretary General, Morris Kaloran confirmed the area councils received their funds late last month.

Kaloran said the Council cannot assist the 18 area councils financially, as the Council had already donated Vt4 million towards SHEFA Day celebrations last month.

He added that they expect a report from each area council about how the money has been spent.

Knowledge Hubs are already being developed in Vanuatu’s Tafea Province, and in other Pacific Island countries including Fiji, Solomon Islands and Tonga – these three countries had community and government representatives visit Tanoliu’s new demonstration plot to learn and exchange ideas.

“We are very proud to have you here in Tanoliu,” said the representative for the Department of Local Authorities (DLA) and Shefa Provincial Government Area Council Development Officer, Ian Kalsuak, during the recent visit by Fiji, Solomon Islands and Tonga representatives.