China has donated about VU$11 million (approximately NZ$155,000) to help Vanuatu’s recovery efforts following the Ambae volcanic emergency and the weekend ferry disaster, the Vanuatu government says.
In a statement on Wednesday night, the Vanuatu Prime Minister’s Office said the “generous donation” was handed over to Prime Minister Jotham Napat in Port Vila by Li Minggang, Beijing’s top diplomat in the country.
“[China’s] support at such a critical time demonstrates true friendship”, Napat was quoted as saying in the statement.
A major ferry disaster last Friday, which resulted in two deaths so far and left dozens of people still missing, has forced Napat to cancel his attendance at the United Nations General Assembly this month.
The Vanuatu PM’s Office said the money would be used to purchase a drilling machine to dig wells on Ambae to ensure access to clean water for affected communities, purchase essential goods and relief supplies for communities on Ambae, and support immediate response and assistance measures relating to the MV Matui tragedy.
“Recent disasters remind us that we must continue to strengthen our capacity to respond, to protect lives, and to support our communities when they need us most,” the prime minister said.
Napat asked Li to pass on Vanuatu’s deepest appreciation to Chinese President Xi Jinping and the people of China.
He said his office was already working closely with all relevant agencies on the ground.
He added that the government looked forward to further collaboration with its partners to ensure Vanuatu does not have to live through such unfortunate circumstances again.
