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IsraAID, Israel’s leading humanitarian NGO, marked the launch of their “Resilient Minds for Resilient Communities” program in Port Vila last Tuesday. The program, funded by the Pacific American Fund, integrates mental health into disaster preparedness programs in Penama Province, Vanuatu. In the face of increasing climate disasters, the program works to strengthen the social fabric and improve mental health resources for 16 communities on the island nation. In partnership with the Vanuatu Ministry of Health, Mental Health Department Area Council Administrators, and community disaster and climate change committees, IsraAID will train community leaders and volunteers and raise awareness about mental health for some 16,000 people.
Vanuatu faces the highest risk of climate disasters of any nation. With 320,000 residents across 83 islands, Vanuatu regularly experiences extreme weather events, which significantly impact the mental health and psychosocial well-being of its communities. While Disaster Risk Reduction frameworks exist across the country, IsraAID is working to strengthen these programs by integrating mental health and psychosocial support into them. Further, by working with the Ministry of Health and other national institutions, IsraAID is creating long-term, sustainable change.
Throughout the yearlong program, IsraAID will conduct a baseline survey to assess mental health and disaster risk levels; train volunteers and community leaders in Psychological First Aid, community resilience, and preparedness; organize community awareness events; and support communities in integrating these new skills into their DRR plans. The program will build local capacity for sustainable mental health support, create networks of community-based mental health responders, and develop early warning systems that account for psychological as well as physical resilience.
IsraAID began working in Vanuatu after Category 5 Cyclone Pam displaced a quarter of the country’s population in 2015. Since then, IsraAID has been supporting Water, Sanitation, Hygiene, nutrition, mental health needs, and prevention of Gender-Based Violence in Vanuatu, supporting the communities' resilience in the face of ongoing climate disasters.
IsraAID Vanuatu Country Director, Gayle Deighton, said, “The Pacific region faces unique challenges – from climate-related disasters to geographical isolation. For too long, disaster preparedness has focused primarily on physical infrastructure and immediate material needs. While these remain crucial, we have learned through our global humanitarian work that the psychological impact of disasters can long outlast physical damage.”
“This project represents a paradigm shift in how we approach disaster risk reduction by placing mental health and psychosocial support at its core. I want to express our profound gratitude to the Pacific American Fund for their vision and support. To our partners – your collaboration is vital to this initiative’s success. Together, we are not just preparing communities for disasters; we are building a foundation for generational resilience,” she added.
Tel: +972 (3) 947-7766 Fax: +972 (77) 555-8809 info@israaid.org
IsraAID is a registered non-profit organization in Israel (Amuta/Org. 580472959) and in the United States as a 501(c)3 (EIN 462118225)
israaid.org
Pacific American Fund Chief of Party Erin LaCroix stated that as the Pacific region continues to face escalating climate challenges, initiatives like 'Resilient Minds for Resilient Communities' exemplify the holistic approach needed to build true resilience. “By integrating mental health into disaster preparedness, this program not only addresses immediate needs but also lays the groundwork for long-term community well-being.”
“The Pacific American Fund is proud to support IsraAID in empowering communities across Vanuatu to not only recover from disasters but to thrive despite them. Together, we are creating a blueprint for resilience that places people—especially their mental health and psychosocial well-being—at the heart of disaster response strategies.”, she said.
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Further information is available on request, including interviews with IsraAID Vanuatu Country Director Gayle Deighton and other individuals involved in this operation.
CONTACT:
Shachar May
Email: smay@israaid.org Phone/Whatsapp: +972586664969
Notes:
IsraAID is a leading international humanitarian non-governmental organization, based in Israel. Since 2001, IsraAID has become synonymous with a rapid response to humanitarian crises and a long-term commitment to working with affected communities. During and after emergencies, IsraAID partners with communities to re-build their lives - and their futures - together. As of November 2024, IsraAID has responded to more than 100 emergencies, in more than 65 countries.