Attachments
The ETC in the Pacific, led by the World Food Programme (WFP), was activated in 2016 under the structure of the Pacific Humanitarian Team (PHT) to support telecommunications preparedness in the region. The ETC in the Pacific is currently supporting the government-led emergency response to Tropical Cyclones Judy and Kevin which hit Vanuatu on 1 and 3 March 2023, as well as two 6.6 and 5.4 magnitude earthquakes which occurred on 3 March 2023.
Highlights
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An ETC officer from WFP – lead agency of the Pacific ETC – pre-configured and activated 10 satellite connectivity terminals loaned to the government of Vanuatu by Starlink to facilitate communications in the emergency response.
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The Pacific ETC officer trained technical staff from the National Disaster Management Organisation (NDMO) on the configuration, activation, and maintenance of the terminals, and prepared a guide for users from Vanuatu’s national clusters active in the emergency response. The user guide is available in English,
French and Bislama. -
On 11 April the Pacific ETC officer travelled to Ambae Island and installed a Starlink satellite data terminal at the Penama PEOC, at the request of the NDMO. The data connectivity service is now activated, enabling users to communicate with the National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC) at NDMO headquarters in Port Vila.
Situation overview
Tropical Cyclones Judy and Kevin―both category 4 intensity―made landfall in Vanuatu on 1 and 3 March causing widespread destruction across the islands of Vanuatu. 251,000 people have been affected (80% of the population) by the two cyclones and approximately 90% of houses have been destroyed in Shefa and Tafea provinces. The national authorities in Vanuatu declared a six-month state of emergency on 5 March.
Five priority areas have been identified by the NDMO: the provinces of Shefa and Tafea, the Shepherd Islands, and parts of Penama and Malampa provinces.
According to the government, road network accessibility has been restored to 90%. Vanuatu airports are operating at 80% for emergency purposes, while commercial services are operating at approximately 70% of its usual capacity.
The national electricity company, UNELCO, continues to work to repair and restore the national power grid.