Australia provides $US1.5m for resettling Ambae people

The Australian government is giving Vanuatu one-point-five million US dollars in assistance to help evacuate and resettle people escaping Ambae's volcano.

Canberra said its assistance will help pay for evacuating the 10,000-strong population on commercial vessels.

The money will also be used to support the government and charities provide shelter, water, health and education to the evacuees and host communities on neighbouring Maewo.

The government said it was also providing further expertise to bolster the Vanuatu government's efforts to resettle people from Ambae.