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The Vanuatu Humanitarian Team

The Vanuatu Humanitarian Team. Vanuatu Basic Facts Vanuatu is located across 450,000 square kilometres in the SW Pacific, occupying just 12,189 square kilometres of land mass.

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The Vanuatu Humanitarian Team

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  1. The Vanuatu Humanitarian Team

  2. Vanuatu Basic Facts Vanuatu is located across 450,000 square kilometres in the SW Pacific, occupying just 12,189 square kilometres of land mass. It sits on the Pacific “ring of fire “that is placed on the sub-duction zone of two tectonic plates and subjected to frequent earthquakes & prone to Climate Change Impacts. 83 remote islands & 122 languages 6 Provincial boundaries Population est .240,000

  3. Some common challenges for Humanitarian Coordination in Vanuatu Small number of agencies operational in Vanuatu Global cluster concept designed on the basis of a large UN presence in country Increasing complexity of disasters & logistical constraints Vanuatu is the most prone country in the world to natural disasters The number of agencieswith different mandates and approaches to DRR at community level No common approach to DRR & emergency response standards, SOP’s or communication link to the NDMO from the provincial level

  4. Nature of the Coordination Body Oxfam-with ECHO & Australian Aid funding, initiated the VHT- Vanuatu Humanitarian Team to strengthen coordination among NGOs and agencies during a humanitarian response. The main objectives are: To ensure a well coordinated non-government sector in all humanitarian preparedness and response action To assist the NDMO, national, provincial and local government agencies to fulfil their mandated responsibilities in relation to humanitarian action. To ensure women and men in key “at risk” communities have the capacity to be active agents in preparedness, response and recovery action

  5. General VHT MEMBERS • UNICEF • VCC (PCIDRR) • Vanuatu family health • Vanuatu Red Cross • OCHA • World vision • WHO • and… • ADRA • CARE international French Red Cross • FSP • Live and learn • OCHA • OXFAM • Save the children • Transparency International • 50 Cluster members • 10 Donor partners

  6. A model of Humanitarian Cluster Coordination in Vanuatu Vanuatu Ministry lead Agency Co-lead Clusters with protection and gender mainstreaming WASH Food Security & Agriculture Education Health & Nutrition Logistics

  7. Tropical Cyclone Jasmine ( Cat.4) Passed through Vanuatu On February 5-9 2012. Damages on the islands of Tafea province. Initial damage reports were coming in from different sources. An Arial Assessment taken on Feb.10 in Tafea Province and identified Tanna and Anietyum Islands most damaged. A rapid assessment team was deployed on Feb 13. The team consisted of specialists from each cluster & NDMO staff.

  8. Basic Strategy for Coordinating a response • NDMO indicating a need for assistance –including tech staff and resources for a fly over assessment • VHT in place to source cluster members for the assessment team • VHT assistance in the analysis on the data collected and tech support in assessment findings • Consistent communication between VHT members, Clusters and Donor partners

  9. Extent of coordination attempted Some cluster preparedness before the cyclone season Coordination meetings began while cyclone warnings were issued and Donors aware of the situation Assessments & information gathering in the field also included CDC’s, Branch officers, NGO’s. Adequate govt representation and inclusion at provincial level

  10. Outcome Rapid assessments transparent and recommendations appropriate. General cost effectiveness in the aid required according to the scale of damage. Information flow adequate for the Govt to make an informed decision on assistance required. VHT now recognised as a key coordination mechanism in Vanuatu and included into the following government plans: NDMO –Standard Operating Procedures National tsunami and cyclone plans National and Provincial Disaster plans

  11. Way Forward • Extended support required for stakeholders at the Provincial govt and provincial community levels • Continue to work with the NDMO and NAB to ensure that VHT members are appropriately informed with latest government initiatives and vice visa especially on climate change and DRR initiatives • Seek sustainable options via VANGO and development partners to ensure that VHT can continue beyond 2013

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