Vanuatu Earthquake 2024

Earthquake 2024 Response

On the 17th of December 2024, a 7.3 earthquake hit near the capital of Vanuatu, Port Vila causing major damage. As of 23 December, 14 people are reported to have lost their life and 210 people injured. These numbers are likely to increase over the coming days. Major structural damage was sustained to many buildings including homes, roads and bridges and power, water, mobile phone and internet coverage was also initially virtually all cut off and continues to be majorly disrupted. Landslides were also experienced in many areas with significant impact. A State of Emergency was immediately declared throughout the worst affected areas of Vanuatu for a period of seven days (17 to 24 December 2024)
NDMO has defined the following priority council areas in Shefa Province for emergency assistance: Port Vila, Eratap, Mele, Pango, Ifira, Tanvasoko, Erakor, and North-West Area Council.

An estimated 16,000 households (HH), approximately 80,000 people (PP) affected by the earthquake impact in Shefa province, mainly in Efate’s urban and peri-urban area in and around Port Vila. NDMO estimates that 70% of the Efate’s population have been affected.

To ensure a coordinated response to the humanitarian needs faced by the affected population in Vanuatu, the cluster system has been activated under the leadership of the NDMO and co-leadership of Vanuatu Red Cross Society (VRCS) with support from the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).

The VSC complements the efforts of the Government of Vanuatu and civil society actors to promote international humanitarian standards and to ensure relief efforts are coordinated and that people living in the earthquake affected areas, and other at-risk areas, live in safe, dignified and appropriate shelter.

The primary goal of the VSC is to support self-recovery through the provision of appropriate tools, materials, cash and technical assistance during the relief phase with activities following to promote early recovery and complement the existing resilience of the affected population.

Vanuatu Shelter Cluster (VSC)Overview

Under the leadership of the National Disaster Management Office (NDMO), the Emergency Shelter Cluster is formed by Government and non-Government member agencies with expertise, activities, stakeholders, and resources in the area of shelter, which can provide assistance in disaster preparedness and response.

Vanuatu Red Cross Society is also a member of Shelter Cluster Vanuatu, and as co-lead, provides support to NDMO during preparedness and small and medium scale disaster responses, with the support of the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC). IFRC, as convener of the Pacific Shelter Cluster (as part of the Pacific Humanitarian Team) is a member of the SCV and will act as co-lead in support of NDMO for large-scale disaster response.
During a disaster response, VRCS through the Global Shelter Cluster Support Team provides surge coordination capacity as requested by the Lead Agency, to the extent required and possible within available resources.