Cash Transfer Programme

According to Sandra Hart from Oxfam, "Of the total target evacuee families and host families residing in Santo, the program benefited 90% of the evacuees and 10% of the host families.
Vanuatu is the first country in the Pacific to roll out an Unconditional Cash Transfer Programme.

The programme has provided flexible financial assistance to Ambae evacuees.

Although there is plenty of international evidence supporting cash transfer programme globally, the approach has not been widely used in Pacific Islands countries before.

More than 30 beneficiaries of the Cash Transfer Programme were taken to the bank Thursday where they cashed their cheques.

Registration of other families from Ambae who are temporarily living on Santo are continuing.

Evacuees on Maewo island will also be assisted.

The displaced families will be able to food, hygiene supplies and pay school fees for the next three months.

The government ordered a mandatory evacuation of the roughly 10,000 people on Ambae in August due to volcanic activity.