Vanuatu earthquake children face a different Christmas

Port Vila, 24 December 2024 – Children are too afraid to return home seven days after devastating earthquakes hit the Pacific nation of Vanuatu, making Christmas very different this year, Save the Children said.

A 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck near Vanuatu's capital, Port Vila, last week, triggering landslides and causing severe damage to buildings and infrastructure. Less than 24 hours later, a second 5.5-magnitude earthquake struck the island.

Some 2,806 people* will spend the holidays in six evacuation sites after fleeing their destroyed or damaged homes, highlighting the need for mental health assistance alongside urgent humanitarian priorities.

Children have told Save the Children that they are too afraid to return to their homes, preferring tents to their damaged homes, even in light of the heavy rains currently hitting the area. Their anxiety was exacerbated by frequent tremors and aftershocks.

Merlin* was at home sewing to earn some extra money before Christmas, and her 10-year-old son Peter* and his baby brother were playing in a different part of the house when the earthquake struck.

She remembers the horrific moment the earthquake tore apart her family's home, separating her from her son as he held his 9-month-old baby brother.

Merlin said:

“I was looking across the divided house and land, at my son holding the baby, waiting for the moment when he or I would fall or fall because of the tremor.”

Peter* said:

“When the ground started shaking, I felt very afraid and did not know what to do. I held on tightly to my little brother and waited for the moment when we would die together.”

The Vanuatu government has confirmed that at least 14 people have been killed and more than 210 injured, but as recovery and relief efforts continue, these numbers are expected to rise.

Research shows the importance of early intervention after disasters to help children's mental health. Save the Children is ready to help provide psychological first aid, and to help bring life back to normal for children as safe housing returns and schools are rebuilt.

Lavinia Mahit-Wasinbani, Acting Country Director of Save the Children in Vanuatu, said:

“Tomorrow, many people around the world will be celebrating Christmas, but I know for us here in Vanuatu, the feeling is one of deep sadness, coupled with gratitude. Many of our families are experiencing trauma, even as they try to help each other.

“We know how traumatic the past week has been not only for the communities in Port Vila and throughout the affected areas of Shefa District, but even for our staff, who are still putting their lives together.”

Save the Children, together with its partners, has created a child-friendly space to heal from their ordeal, including children with special needs, so that children can process the events of the past week in a safe and welcoming space. The organization also helps families by supporting the distribution of relief materials to families in evacuation centers, including hygiene kits and basic household supplies.

Save the Children has a long history of responding to emergencies in the Pacific and Vanuatu, and is currently supporting the Government of Vanuatu to assess the impact of the earthquake.

Through the Australian Humanitarian Partnership's Disaster Preparedness Programme, which is funded by the Australian Government, Save the Children also works with communities across Vanuatu to develop disaster preparedness plans and conduct emergency preparedness training.

I finish

Notes

*Names have been changed to protect anonymity.

*Estimates are likely to rise as authorities and rescue teams reach isolated families.

Lavinia Mahet, acting country director for Save the Children in Vanuatu, based in Port Vila, is available for interviews.

For interview requests please contact:

Save the Children Australia: [email protected]

Amy Saweta Lefevre, Global Media Director, Asia: [email protected]

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