Attachments
A. SITUATION ANALYSIS
Description of the crisis
Tropical Cyclone (TC) Lola, initially classified as a Category 5 system, made landfall on the eastern shores of Maewo and Pentecost Islands on the night of 25 October 2023 as a Category 4 cyclone. The system brought destructive winds of up to 205 km/h, accompanied by torrential rainfall, flash flooding in lowlying areas, and coastal inundation, resulting in widespread damage.Significant destruction was reported across Pentecost,
Maewo, Ambrym, and Malekula Islands.
On 27 October 2023, the Government of Vanuatu declared a sixmonth state of emergency covering the provinces of Torba,
Penama, Malampa, Shefa, and Sanma. This declaration remained in effect until 25 April 2024, enabling a coordinated national and international response and expediting the mobilisation of emergency resources.
Initial estimates from the National Disaster Management Office (NDMO) indicated that 150,000 people (approximately 30,000 households) were affected by the cyclone. However, as more detailed assessments became available, the figure was revised to 91,000 people directly impacted. The NDMO prioritised areas for response based on the cyclone’s path, severity of impact, and population displacement. The most severely affected areas included:
- Ambrym, Malekula, and Paama (Malampa Province)
- Ambae, Maewo, and Pentecost (Penama Province)
- Epi (Shefa Province)
- Merelava (Torba Province)
Approximately 60,000 people were identified as residing in these Priority 1 areas. The cyclone caused extensive damage to houses, crops, and public infrastructure, leading to urgent humanitarian needs, particularly in shelter, food security, water and sanitation, and health services.
By the end of the response operation, key interventions had been implemented to address urgent humanitarian needs and support early recovery. Major achievements included:
- Shelter and Housing: Emergency shelter materials were provided to the most affected households, with repairs initiated for permanent structures.
- Food Security and Livelihoods: Food distributions were conducted in critical areas, and agricultural recovery support, such as seed and tool distributions, was provided.
- Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH): Safe drinking water access was restored in priority areas through water purification units and infrastructure repairs.
- Health Services: Mobile health teams delivered essential medical care, and disease surveillance was strengthened to prevent outbreaks.