Indonesia Offers Urgent Aid to Earthquake-Affected Vanuatu
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Jakarta, Dec 28 (NationPress) The Indonesian government has extended urgent assistance to the earthquake-affected Vanuatu to support its emergency relief operations following the 7.3-magnitude tremor on December 17, which tragically resulted in the loss of a dozen lives and left hundreds injured.
A plane loaded with a medical team and 50.5 tonnes of supplies and food took off from Halim Perdanakusuma Air Force base in East Jakarta on Friday afternoon.
Health Minister Budi Sadikin expressed hope that the medical team would commence assistance for the victims upon their arrival in the country. He mentioned that the team is expected to undertake their humanitarian mission for a duration of 14 days, as reported by Xinhua news agency.
On December 24, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) announced a provision of $5 million in contingent disaster financing to bolster emergency relief initiatives in Vanuatu after the significant earthquake struck the capital, Port Vila, on December 17.
This grant originated from the fifth phase of the Pacific Disaster Resilience Programme, which has also assisted in enhancing the nation's ability to manage and mitigate disaster risks.
The programme was funded by a $20 million concessional loan from the ADB's ordinary capital resources and a $21 million grant from the Asian Development Fund.
The situation in Vanuatu remained dire following the earthquake, prompting the government to seek international support on December 18.
The government of Vanuatu declared a state of emergency for a period of seven days after the earthquake. Official reports confirmed at least 14 fatalities and over 200 injuries, with expectations that the numbers may increase.
To enhance the national response, the government sought international aid, as noted by Stephane Dujarric, spokesperson for the UN chief, during a press briefing.
Local authorities reported extensive damage caused by the quake, impacting hospitals, residential and public structures, roads, water reservoirs, and gas pipelines. Villages near Efate also faced landslides, and many areas experienced communication disruptions.
Operations at Port Vila International Airport encountered delays due to damage to its terminal and road infrastructure, although the runway remained operational, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). The airport was initially closed to all commercial flights but resumed operations on December 22.
Access to the seaport was similarly hampered by landslides, affecting the transportation of essential supplies and personnel.
The United Nations and its partners mobilized resources for the response, with OCHA deploying response teams, including a UN disaster assessment and coordination team, to the affected area.
UN humanitarian workers indicated that immediate needs encompassed medical supplies, repairs to medical facilities, mobile medical teams, and search and rescue operations with heavy machinery for clearing debris, as well as safe drinking water.
