Ambae Island

More than 11,000 villagers were repatriated back to their villages after the volcano stabilized and a state of emergency was lifted fortnight ago.

According to the Vanuatu Daily Post, the volcanic ash was now showering the north side of the island spoiling cabbages, taro and water as the volcanic alert dropped to level 3.

Despite the size of the ash and fear among the people, the Vanuatu Meteorological and Geo-Hazards Managing Director Esline Garaebiti said that the alert level remained the same.

Authorities have arranged ships to repatriate the residents.

According to veteran Vanuatu journalist Moses Stevens, Government officers, National Disaster Management Office, police and representatives of other organisations involved were deployed to Ambae on Saturday before the repatriation process started yesterday.   

The officials were sent ahead to ensure a controlled and well-coordinated return of the people of Ambae.

The MV Aganda transported more than 200 people back to Ambae.

The 11-thousand strong population was moved off earlier this month after the Manaro volcano began erupting and threatened food and water supplies.

The Council of Ministers said the repatriation will only begin once the Disaster Management Office had analysed the logistics and prepared a plan.

The council said it will take responsibility for returning the evacuees.

It's also agreed to extend the state of emergency "to facilitate the repatriation".

The aid agency has registered more than 2500 families for aid distribution on the neighbouring islands of Santo, Maewo and Pentecost, from more than 11,000 people evacuated from the island.

The state of emergency on Ambae has been extended until next week and the government said no one may return until it is lifted.

Red Cross spokesperson Shirley Johnson said a staggered repatriation would start with Ambae residents who live furthest from the volcano.

She said they were eager to return.

The order was made to evacuate last week when the alert was raised to level 4 - the second-highest - and the volcano was raining ash across much of the island.

The manager of the Geohazards Department, Esline Garaebiti, said while the volcano was still erupting, it appeared to be stabilising.

She said the alert level has been dropped to level three - what is deemed a "minor eruption."

A state of emergency remains in place for Ambae because of the volcanic threat.

More than 3000 of those who were evacuated from Ambae have been sent to the islands of Pentecost and Maewo which are more rural than the larger Espiritu Santo where the other 8000 have been sent.

Santo with its international Port and large runway has been made the operational hub for the relief effort.

But its focus has been taken up by the massive influx of people which has almost doubled the population of the provincial capital Luganville.

Thousands of people are now struggling on a neighbouring island in fierce heat with limited food, water and shelter.

More than 3000 refugees arrived on the island of Espiritu Santo from Ambae on boats yesterday and a similar number were expected today.

Foreign Minister Gerry Brownlee said the government had now received a formal request from the Vanuatu government for specific assistance and would send another $250,000 worth of supplies to the country.

"Tomorrow morning a C-130 from the New Zealand Airforce will take off with those supplies," Mr Brownlee said.

Thousands of people are now struggling on a neighbouring island in fierce heat with limited food, water and shelter.

More than 3000 refugees arrived on the island of Espiritu Santo from Ambae on boats yesterday and a similar number were expected today.

Foreign Minister Gerry Brownlee said the government had now received a formal request from the Vanuatu government for specific assistance and would send another $250,000 worth of supplies to the country.

"Tomorrow morning a C-130 from the New Zealand Airforce will take off with those supplies," Mr Brownlee said.

About 3500 evacuees arrived on the island of Espiritu Santo overnight, bringing the total number of evacuees close to 5000, with up to 4000 more still to leave Ambae.

Provincial officials said the 19 evacuation centres on Santo were already filled to capacity and about 1000 evacuees have yet to be processed.

The government wants the entire population evacuated by Friday, but officials said the original figure of 11,000 given for Ambae's total population could be too low.

The vessel was dispatched on Saturday to help assist people from the northern island of Ambae as Monaro Voui threatens to shower down burning ash and acid rain.

Vanuatu ordered the full evacuation of the island after the nation's largest volcano began emitting volcanic gas last weekend.

Boats will spend the next week ferrying residents off Ambae where the Monaro volcano spewed lava, smoke, and ash since Sunday.