After six disasters, Vanuatu's biggest challenge is survival

Vanuatu is in a constant state of post-disaster reconstruction. Faced with a succession of calamities, how much more can this country endure? A landmark building that once symbolized the deepening relationship between China and Vanuatu has now become a microcosm of the many problems facing one of the world's most vulnerable and disaster-prone nations. This underscores the urgent need for comprehensive disaster preparedness and mitigation strategies.

The luxurious presidential palace complex, less than a year after its inauguration, has suffered severe damage and, like many areas of the capital, is in a state of disrepair. Wilson Thomas Ioma, a personal secretary to the President of Vanuatu, told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), "You can see cracks everywhere." He questioned, "Ultimately, who should be blamed?" This raises serious questions about construction standards and accountability.

It has been more than three months since a devastating magnitude 7.3 earthquake struck Port Vila. The earthquake killed 14 people and affected the lives of about 80,000 people across the country. Buildings were flattened, cars were crushed, and homes were reduced to rubble. The central business district (CBD) remains largely a ghost town, with rows of unsafe buildings awaiting demolition throughout the city. This devastating earthquake was one of the worst the country has suffered, following three destructive cyclones in 2023, leaving the people of Vanuatu almost perpetually in a state of post-disaster reconstruction.

Although the damage to the presidential palace may not be as severe as that of other buildings after the earthquake, it is still riddled with serious structural cracks. The Chinese Embassy in Vanuatu called it "inevitable surface damage" after the earthquake. According to Ioma, the building was "not built to specifications," a claim strongly denied by the Chinese Embassy. Ioma stated, "There was no steel mesh, only thin wire to reinforce the concrete walls." This discrepancy highlights potential issues in construction oversight and quality control.

Earlier this month, the Prime Minister of Vanuatu told ABC that China had offered to cover the cost of repairing five key projects built with Chinese aid funds, totaling $4 million, including the presidential palace. Chinese government engineers arrived in Port Vila this week after Beijing sent experts earlier this year to assist with structural studies and safety assessments. Regardless, the presidential palace itself is just a small factor in the heated debate within Vanuatu about who should bear responsibility and who should pay for the hundreds of millions of dollars in repairs after the earthquake. The need for transparency and accountability in aid projects is becoming increasingly clear.

Meanwhile, Vanuatu is facing an impending economic crisis and prolonged political instability. Snap elections were held less than a month after the earthquake, with many parts of the country still experiencing tremors and aftershocks during the voting period. Willie Tokon, head of Transparency International Vanuatu, told ABC, "It's simply unbelievable." Yet, despite everything, the people of Vanuatu refuse to give up hope. ABC spent a week documenting their resilience and strength as the country grapples with the daunting prospect of rebuilding once again, with the threat of another natural disaster looming large. Their spirit in the face of adversity is truly inspiring.

Vanuatu is one of the most disaster-prone countries on Earth. It is a low-lying Pacific island nation located within the Ring of Fire, a horseshoe-shaped belt of volcanic structures around the Pacific Ocean and one of the most seismically active regions in the world. As a result, Vanuatu is frequently subjected to frequent earthquakes, cyclones, and unexpected tsunamis. Not to mention more than nine active volcanoes, all of which have forced thousands of people to relocate in the past few years. This geographical reality underscores the importance of robust infrastructure and disaster management planning.

Despite the numerous destructive events of late, many Vanuatuans say last year's earthquake was different: not only because it was very strong, but also because it occurred at a shallower depth, just 35 kilometers west of Efate Island, where the capital, Port Vila, is located. Critical infrastructure, including hospitals, bridges, and reservoirs, suffered extensive damage, plunging Vanuatu into a state of emergency. In this island nation of only 320,000 people, 50,000 of whom live in Port Vila, almost everyone has a story of survival. These personal accounts highlight the human cost of these disasters.

Fortunately, the earthquake occurred during school holidays and many office workers were out for lunch. While some areas are now reopening, many parts of Port Vila's central business district remain closed, and the streets are unusually quiet. Vanuatu's reconstruction office says it could take years for the area to return to normal. A massive landslide on a cliff above the Port Vila wharf has made the road along the wharf impassable, and there are currently no plans to reopen it. For those who still work in the shadow of the cliff, there remains a sense of foreboding that rocks from the mountain could fall at any time. The slow pace of recovery adds to the challenges faced by the community.

Engineers say buildings that suffered catastrophic damage in the earthquake fall into two categories: old buildings that were not designed with seismic activity in mind, and new buildings that some suspect were not designed to Vanuatu's building codes. A Vanuatuan engineer named Cyril Mangi said, "We have the biggest cyclones, and we have quite serious earthquakes." Cyril was referring to the destruction of classrooms at Malapoa College in Port Vila, which was built and donated to Vanuatu by the Chinese government in 2018. The Chinese Embassy in Vanuatu told ABC that Chinese-aided projects are "designed to withstand magnitude 8 earthquakes and are built in accordance with building codes," while stating that Beijing's reconstruction cooperation with the Vanuatu government is proceeding closely. This emphasizes the need for strict adherence to building codes and quality control measures.

Three months have passed, and the city is still demolishing major buildings, with the reconstruction phase still a long way off. Every day, unstable buildings pose a real threat to people's lives. Rose Toaune, whose house now lives in the shadow of one of these blocks—the Vanuatu Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources—says she is afraid to sleep. After surviving the initial earthquake, repeated aftershocks caused her and her family to run outside as bricks and debris fell on their house. George Lapi, who works for a beverage distribution company, was shocked by the widespread damage after inspecting the company's refrigerators throughout the town. The lingering danger and slow progress are taking a toll on the residents.

Despite substantial aid from Australia, China, New Zealand, and other countries, Vanuatu lacks the resources and equipment needed for reconstruction efforts. Meanwhile, the country is already burdened with public debt, estimated at about half of the country's GDP, 80% of which is foreign debt. To make matters worse, it is estimated that 95% of Vanuatu's population has no insurance. In addition to earthquake recovery and future disaster prevention efforts, Vanuatu is also struggling with inflation, declining foreign investment, skills shortages, and a loss of confidence among business owners. It is also one of the worst countries in the Pacific region in terms of post-pandemic tourism recovery, which led to the collapse of the country's national airline last year. Many are wondering if more loans and more debt are really the solution. This highlights the complex economic challenges facing Vanuatu.

The country replaced three prime ministers in four months last year. Following snap elections in January, Jotham Napat, former Director-General for Climate Change, was elected Prime Minister—the country's fifth leader since late 2022. Napat is optimistic about Vanuatu's future, and he has some ideas. Some are hopeful and expect the new leadership to contribute more. Others, however, consider these ideas to be daydreams that will soon be shattered. Only time will tell. But what is clear is the determination of the people of Vanuatu to overcome all obstacles and keep moving forward. Their resilience and determination offer a glimmer of hope for the future.