Vanuatu

Just Play Emergency Response Programme supports Vanuatu after natural disaster

To support the affected children and communities dealing with the widespread devastation, Vanuatu Football Federation have initiated the delivery of the Just Play Emergency Response Programme.

The Sport for Development programme uses the power of football to issue psychosocial support to children after an emergency. Children learn through play and gain meaningful knowledge such as how to keep themselves and their families safe following a natural disaster.

Vanuatu government budgets for Games' participation

Seventeen sports teams will travel to Honiara to compete and each participant is required to pay 50,400 vatu by this month to the Solomon Islands organising committee as their participation fees.

Team Vanuatu Chef De Mission, William Worworkon, said they are also looking at sending athletes overseas to train and prepare for the Games which are being held in November.

     

Influenza-Like Illness outbreak declared in Vanuatu

MOH said the number of new cases increased nationally by 10 percent from the previous week.

According to the ministry, testing has been conducted at Vila Central Hospital Lab and confirmed Influenza A H1N1, Influenza B, Adenovirus, Rhinovirus, Respiratory Syncytial Virus and Covid-19.

The increase of cases has crossed the National Influenza-Like Illness threshold and the ministry has declared an outbreak of Influenza-Like Illness.

World Bank highlights Pacific debt distress

The report, named Raising Pasifika: Strengthening Government Finances to Enhance Human Capital in the Pacific is a public expenditure review for Kiribati, Nauru, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Palau, Samoa, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu.

According to RNZ Pacific, the report's executive summary says the Covid-19 shock, combined with overlapping shocks from natural disasters and global inflation, risks reversing a decade of progress in building human capital across the Pacific.

RSE wages help to fund cyclone protection measures in Vanuatu

“We came from a place that had no water,” says Kalter Kalsilick, who lives in the village of Eton. 

Kalsilick came to New Zealand in 2017 and picked apples in Hastings before heading south to Blenheim to pick grapes reports PMN News. 

He returned seven months later and spent 250,000 vatu ($3,280 NZD) on a drill that could burrow down to the water table. 

“My aim was to provide a water system for my village, and this is beneficial for my village but also for my family because I am also building a house for them.”

Vanuatu's opposition leader pulls motion of no confidence in PM

The opposition leader told Parliament MPs who were behind the motion changed their mind on Thursday night and he withdrew the motion on Friday morning.

Kalsakau said he knew all along the opposition did not have the required 27 MPs to topple him.

On Friday morning the opposition only had the support of 15 MPs against 36 on the government side.

Loughman alleged the Kalsakau-led government of putting political pressures on state institutions as well as threatening, intimidating and targeting public officials.

Magnitude 7.7 earthquake near Loyalty Islands triggers tsunami threat for Vanuatu, Fiji, New Caledonia

The warnings were issued just after 3pm by the Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre

The National Emergency Management Agency is currently assessing whether a large earthquake in the Pacific is a tsunami threat to New Zealand.

The earthquake was nearly 38 kilometres deep.

RNZ Pacific senior reporter Walter Zweifel said the warning broadcast for New Caledonia on RRB, a commercial radio station, applied to all islands, with people being asked to evacuate coastal areas for higher ground.

Vanuatu and Solomon Islands Discuss Border Arrangement Agreement

A draft Border Arrangement Agreement was used as the basis for the discussions with an agreement for a commitment to conduct further consultations in both respective capitals before concluding negotiations by July 2023.

Speaking during the close of the meeting on Thursday, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade, Collin Beck said the first Senior Officials meeting was a success.

Permanent Secretary Beck paid tribute to the two Prime Ministers of Solomon Islands and Vanuatu for signing the Motalava treaty back in 2016.

Ifira Black Bird to do whatever it takes to stay alive in OFC Champions League 2023

Conversely, AS Pirae, after a dominant 3-0 win over New Caledonia’s Tiga Sport in their first match, can cement a semi-final berth with victory at Freshwater Stadium in Port Vila.

The magnitude of the occasion isn’t lost on Ifira coach Jean Robert Yelou.

“We want to stay alive in this competition so I’ll do everything to try and get those three points,” Yelou said.

“I will play our best team and I’ve already told the boys we have to do everything in our power to keep our hopes alive.

“Our destiny is still in our own hands. Nothing is impossible.”

Draw finalised for OFC U-19 Women’s Championship 2023

The draw was finalised in Port Vila, Vanuatu yesterday.

The tournament will see ten nations from across the Pacific competing, with New Zealand defending the title they won in 2019, defeating New Caledonia in the final in Cook Islands.

Tahiti, New Caledonia, Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea, New Zealand and Cook Islands are also participating in the tournament which will be held from June 21 to July 8.

The draw was conducted by OFC Head of Competitions, Chris Kemp, OFC President, Lambert Matlock and host President of Fiji Football Federation, Rajesh Patel.