Vanuatu Earthquakes Appeal closes
A devastating 7.3 magnitude earthquake struck Vanuatu on Tuesday, 17 December, 2024. The damage to people’s lives and livelihoods was immense and urgent help was needed. New Zealand Red Cross opened an emergency appeal the following day and raised more than $250,000 to make a life-changing difference immediately and as the country recovered.
The powerful earthquake, was followed by strong aftershocks, causing widespread devastation. A third of the population was affected, with an estimated 51,000 people residing in the hardest-hit areas, where vital communications, power and water infrastructure and buildings were severely damaged.
Sadly, lives were lost, and many others were injured. Communities were in desperate need of urgent assistance.
Immediately, with the help of donations from people across New Zealand, we activated communication facilities that had been pre-positioned earlier in the year to help Vanuatu Red Cross teams on the ground communicate and coordinate their response during the emergency. Within days of the earthquake, two of our International Delegates were in Vanuatu with satellite phones, Starlink and other critical communications technology support.
International Delegate John Moriarty
John Moriarty and Chris Harrison 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.
A third delegate later travelled to assist Vanuatu Red Cross with the management systems needed to make best use of the donations from New Zealanders and others around the globe who wanted to help.
Vanuatu Red Cross has a team of 42 staff and 422 volunteers. Despite suffering damage to their Port Vila building, they were hard at work on the ground, responding to the crisis. Their efforts were crucial in providing urgent relief to those in need. They had enough relief items for 4,000 households. Red Cross volunteers were also on the ground reaching communities and settlements with emergency shelter, water and other support. Immediate needs included first aid, food and medication. A Restoring Family Links service was also established to connect missing people with their loved ones.
How your support helped
Generous donations to our Appeal helped the people affected by the earthquakes in Vanuatu in the aftermath of the devastating disaster. As the situation developed, the funding provided humanitarian assistance to meet people’s needs, which included distributing relief items and essential supplies, cash assistance, clean water and hygiene, school cleanups, and helping recovery efforts.
The destruction caused by this event is massive, and the road to recovery will be long. The people of Vanuatu will continue to need the support of Red Cross as they rebuild.
Related updates
Read more about our work in Vanuatu to support the community after the earthquake.
- Vanuatu communities face long recovery after earthquake
- New Zealand Red Cross deploys to Vanuatu
- Update from New Zealand Red Cross on the Vanuatu earthquake
- New Zealand Red Cross launches Vanuatu Earthquakes Appeal
Related information
Our Vanuatu Earthquakes Appeal has now closed.
If you would like to support our ongoing work in the Pacific, you can donate to our:
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International Delegate Programme
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Learn more about our Restoring Family Links services: