Vanuatu: Lopevi Volcano - May 2006

Lopevi Volcano erupted on May 9. While the island of Lopevi is uninhabited the nearby islands of Paama and Ambrym have had heavy ashfall affecting the water supplies and crops of communities in South-East Ambrym and Paama. The total population of Paama is 1,572, comprised of 23 villages and 511 households.

On Paama, the two main cash crops of vanilla and pepper have been damaged badly and are no longer likely to provide a source of income. On both islands, staple foods such as wild yams, kumala, taros, bananas and coconut trees have either been damaged or destroyed. Communities in South East Ambrym and Paama are experiencing health problems caused by the consumption of contaminated food and water as well as the inhalation of ash. Head pain, skin infections, diarrhea, vomiting and respiratory difficulties have been reported in the communities affected. (OCHA, 12 Jun 2006)