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Vanuatu + 2 more

United States Gives $1.4 Million in Assistance to Solomon Islands and Vanuatu

In the wake of Cyclone Pam, the United States Government immediately issued disaster declarations from U.S. Embassy Port Moresby and has since donated a total of $1.4 million in assistance to Solomon Islands and Vanuatu. The U.S. Embassy is pleased to announce that the United States contributed $1,000,000 through the USAID Food for Peace (FFP) program to the World Food Program (WFP) to support the immediate food security needs of affected populations in Solomon Islands and Vanuatu over the coming three month period. This funding is in addition to a previously-donated $250,000 to World Food Program for logistical support for humanitarian assistance in Vanuatu. When combined with the $50,000 donation to WorldVision in Solomon Islands and the $100,000 donation French Red Cross Vanuatu, the total value of U.S. assistance awarded in the two countries since Cyclone Pam equals $1,400,000.

The FFP works to reduce hunger and malnutrition and ensure that all people at all times have access to sufficient food for a healthy and productive life. FFP provides emergency food assistance to those affected by conflict and natural disasters and provides development food assistance to address the underlying causes of hunger. FFP’s programs cover a broad array of activities designed to help communities build their resilience so they can prevent or mitigate shocks, make sure they have food during a crisis and provide them the tools to recover and build the foundation for their long-term development.

WFP is the world's largest humanitarian agency fighting hunger worldwide, delivering food assistance in emergencies and working with communities to improve nutrition and build resilience. Each year, WFP assists some 80 million people in around 75 countries.

USAID’s Office Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA) dispatched a disaster relief team to Port Vila, Vanuatu in the wake of Cyclone Pam. OFDA personnel continue to identify the best methods for providing disaster assistance and how the United States can best help the people of Vanuatu and Solomon Islands. The U.S. Government wishes to express its ongoing support and assistance to the people of Vanuatu and the Solomon Islands who have been affected by the cyclone’s devastation