Strengthening Resilience: Cyclone Aid to Vanuatu

From October 2023 to December 2024, the Vanuatu Red Cross Society (VRCS), supported by the IFRC and key partners, delivered life-saving aid and recovery support to over 29,960 people affected by Tropical Cyclone Lola, a Category 4 cyclone that caused widespread devastation across Penama, Malampa, Shefa, Torba, and Sanma provinces.

Key achievements:

• Shelter & Housing: Emergency shelter kits and household items were distributed to 20,370 individuals. Build Back Safer (BBS) training helped improve cyclone-resistant construction knowledge.

• Water, Sanitation & Hygiene (WASH): 11,840 people benefited from hygiene kits, jerry cans, and rehabilitated water points. Hygiene promotion activities reached 1,215 people.

• Health: Health messaging, mosquito net distribution, and psychosocial support reached 2,429 people. 28 staff and volunteers were trained in First Aid.

• Cash Assistance: 1,716 households (8,580 people) received Multi-Purpose Cash Grants via Digicel’s MyCash system to meet urgent needs.

• Protection, Gender & Inclusion (PGI): 8,459 individuals were reached with PGI messaging and services. 45 volunteers and 27 staff were trained on PGI principles.

• Community Engagement: Over 1,000 individuals provided feedback via VRCS’s hotline, feedback boxes, and Facebook page, helping guide improvements.

• Branch Strengthening: VRCS recruited 14 new volunteers in Ambrym, renovated branch facilities, and enhanced volunteer insurance and logistics systems.

• Partnerships: Coordination with the Government of Vanuatu, IFRC, and Red Cross partners ensured effective relief delivery. NZRC, DFAT, MFAT, and USAID supported with in-kind goods and funding.

Challenges such as logistics, volunteer turnover, and funding constraints were addressed through adaptive planning, community-led engagement, and surge support from international Red Cross networks.

The operation highlights VRCS’s growing capacity to lead localized, coordinated disaster response while reinforcing long-term community resilience.

Links:

• Vanuatu, Asia Pacific | Tropical Cyclone Lola - Final Report