Vanuatu

The NDMO confirmed that the National Emergency Operational Centre (NEOC) remains operational, as well as the Provincial Emergency Operation Centre (EOC)’s at Torba, Sanma and Malampa province.

“Plans are in place to conduct aerial surveillance of damaged areas on Wednesday 20 February. Assessment teams have been formed in Torba and Sanma provinces to commence damage assessments,” a statement said.

Logistical plans are in place to provide relief supplies when the rough seas subside.

As it left, reports of widespread damage were starting to emerge from Vanuatu's northern provinces, and from the south of Solomon Islands.

The Red Cross said it understood as many as 30 houses were destroyed and there had been extensive damage to crops.

The storm - while only a category two - pulled three loops off the coast of the island of Santo late last week, then stalled near it for much of the weekend before finally moving away.

He met with his Australian counterpart Marise Payne and the Assistant Minister for International Development and the Pacific Anne Ruston.

Discussions focused on improving economic relations, including the kava trade.

This led to an agreement for an outreach programme by Vanuatu leaders to indigenous communities in the Northern Territory, where Kava abuse is reportedly a problem.

Mr Regenvanu also visited farms in North Sydney last week, where he was briefed on the experiences and working environment of ni-Vanuatu under the Seasonal Workers Programme.

The senior officers of the Extension and Technical Division of the Vanuatu Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD) have decided that Emae island will host the Mini Agriculture Show.

Shefa Provincial Agriculture Officer (PAO) Willie Iau, confirmed that, the main theme for the Mini Agriculture Show is ‘Grow Organic, Eat local and Think global’.

“According to the DARD Business plan 2019, the Mini Agriculture Show on Emae is part of the preparation towards 2020 National Agriculture Festival on Tanna”.

In the past 3 hours, Tropical Cyclone Oma was slow moving west south-westerly at 4 kph and away from Vanuatu.

Earlier, it had stalled west of Vanuatu's biggest island of Santo.

The storm had lashed the northern islands of the country over the past 24 hours, reportedly bringing down trees and houses in the area.

The cyclone is about 280 kilometres west southwest of Santo and 365 kilometres west northwest of Malekula.

The storm is packing gusts of up to 110 km/hr.

The storm, still a category two, is about 295 kilometres west-southwest of the country's largest island.

It's followed an unusual path and completed three loops off Santo's western coast.

In doing this, the island's been lashed with torrential rains, strong storm surges, and winds in excess of 100 kilometres an hour.

The Vanuatu Meteorological Service says Oma's proving difficult to forecast, but it is gradually moving southwest away from Vanuatu.

However, storm warnings are still in force for at least the next 24 hours.

The government has issued its highest alert level of red for Torba, Sanma, Penama and Melampa provinces.

Oma is still a category two system and was sitting 145km west of Santo at 8am local time this morning.

It is heading in a north north-east direction towards Santo's north-west, with winds as high as 130km/h at its centre.

Authorities in Vanuatu are warning of torrential rain, damaging winds and violent storm surges.

The Meteorological Service has described the sea swells in the area as phenomenal and is urging people to stay inland.

The department said current volcanic activity is consistent with the Volcanic Alert Level 2.

This declined activity and the presence of active faults in the South-Eastern part of Ambrym have contributed to the change of current danger zones of Ambrym volcano.

Latest satellite imagery and observations in the field from 3 to 9 February 2019 confirm the presence of open cracks and active faults in Paamal village and its vicinity and the uplift at the coastal area of South-East Ambrym.

According to the department, these fractures are oriented in the WSW-ENE direction.

Tranquillity Island Resort on Beautiful Moso Island, North Efate, is looking for an investor to partner for development as far as possible for its 380 hectares of what must be one of the most unique profiles in Vanuatu.

The project proposal has been shared with Pacific Trade Invest (PTI) NZ’s Investment team and is listed on the investment website Pacific Hub.

Vanuatu's government has this week been undergoing its universal periodic review at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva.

A number of countries have sought updates on gender equality from Vanuatu.

Indonesia's representative, Irwansyah Mukhlis, said his country had deep concerns regarding the condition of women in Vanuatu.

He said despite Vanuatu's attempts at improving human rights since its last review, violence against women remained a problem.