Vanuatu communities face long recovery after earthquake
14 January 2025
When a 7.3 magnitude earthquake struck Vanuatu on 17 December it left an estimated 80,000 people grappling with its devastating impact.
Homes were destroyed, roads blocked and vital infrastructure damaged across Efate Island, including the capital, Port Vila. Nearly a month later, over 700 people who were forced to leave their homes are still sheltering in three evacuation centres and 45 host households.
Vanuatu Red Cross reacted immediately providing emergency relief and temporary shelters, but the need is great and the local team required support. We launched the Vanuatu Earthquakes Appeal the very next day on 18 December. Thanks to generous donations we’ve been able to respond quickly and support emergency relief efforts, including temporary shelter, food, water, healthcare support, protection, and psychological services, and restoration of communication networks.
Connectivity is crucial
Humanitarian action can’t happen without coordination, and coordination during disasters at the speed needed relies on good technology and connectivity. The generous donations to our appeal and logistical support from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) enabled us to send two of our Information Technology and Telecommunications Emergency Response Unit (IT&T ERU) specialists – John Moriarty and Chris Harrison – to Vanuatu. They brought life-saving expertise to a complex and rapidly evolving situation, ensuring Vanuatu Red Cross’ critical IT systems and communications remained operational when they were needed most.
Our longstanding relationship with Vanuatu Red Cross meant that when the earthquake happened, key equipment was already in place. In June 2024 New Zealand Red Cross IT&T ERU had helped completely upgrade the Vanuatu Red Cross IT systems to improve the resilience of both information management and internet connectivity. This upgrade centered around a unique system called IT-in-a-Box, an innovative mobile IT solution designed for Pacific conditions.
The IT-in-a-Box system enables smooth running of computer software and online communications during normal times. It is also designed to support Red Cross National Societies during disaster response and can even be relocated in emergencies.
When the earthquake struck, a local Red Cross IT officer acted quickly to relocate the functioning IT-in-a-Box out of the national office building. This was a crucial move to ensure the system remained unscathed in case of a building collapse. At the same time, New Zealand Red Cross remotely activated the Starlink satellite dish to provide an internet connection, as the local fibre network was not functioning. This allowed Vanuatu Red Cross to communicate and coordinate their response after the earthquake.
Helping in Port Vila
John and Chris arrived in Port Vila four days after the earthquake on a New Zealand Defence Force relief flight organised by MFAT. They quickly got to work supporting the local Red Cross’ IT systems, communications and power generation.
They had four goals: to iron out any problems with connectivity, check and fix satellite connections, ensure radios and satellite phones functionality, and provide technical support as needed by Vanuatu Red Cross response teams.
Their impact was immediate. “We collaborated really well with local civil engineers. With their expertise, we identified the safest working space, and where the IT-in-a-Box could be safely located in the Vanuatu Red Cross national office. We learned a few lessons on the way, including security configurations in connecting to the IT-in-a-Box, and we also were able to provide some useful health and safety training to local staff in the use of power generators. We were very pleased with the IT-in-a-Box's ability to withstand the impacts of the earthquake,” says John Moriarty, New Zealand Red Cross IT&T ERU Team Lead.
John and Chris also provided a helping hand in developing a streamlined process for registering and getting other Red Cross international delegates arriving to support Vanuatu connected, ensuring rapid integration into relief efforts.
Reflecting on the experience, John shared: “Vanuatu Red Cross staff’s warmth, dedication, and commitment to humanitarian service was truly inspiring. Secretary-General Dickinson Tevi's support and the team's cooperative spirit made this deployment not just a technical mission, but a profound human experience of mutual support and resilience. Working alongside my exceptional colleague Chris Harrison, we felt honoured to represent New Zealand Red Cross and support our Pacific neighbours in Vanuatu. It was truly rewarding to apply our technical expertise in direct support of humanitarian efforts in the wake of this crisis."
From emergency to recovery
As Vanuatu transitions from emergency to recovery, the work is far from over. The recovery process will take many months and your support is essential.
Right now, Vanuatu Red Cross is actively collecting and analysing vital shelter and health data to ensure recovery efforts have the greatest impact. To assist the local team with this work, we have also deployed a monitoring and evaluation specialist delegate to Vanuatu for a month. Clare Shave will be assisting the local team as they set up best practices for monitoring activities, collecting, analysing and managing data for impact evaluation of recovery projects.
The journey to recovery is long but with your support we can stand alongside the people of Vanuatu. Donations from generous New Zealanders are not just funding technical solutions; they are empowering communities, restoring hope, and making a real difference in the lives of those impacted by this disaster.
Related information
If you would like to make a donation to our Vanuatu Earthquakes Appeal, please go to:
Learn more about our international delegates’ work and how we recruit:
International Delegate Programme
Find out more about our work in the Pacific:
Lead image: International Delegate John Moriarty at work in Vanuatu.