PORT VILA, 29 AUGUST 2018 (VANUATU DAILY POST) – Vanuatu Council of Ministers (COM) in it meeting Tuesday has endorsed another Vt200million (US$1.7 million) for the Ambae volcano victims, said the Public Relation Officer (PRO) to the Prime Minister’s Office, Hilaire Bule.
The emergency fund will support the Government’s ongoing response to the Ambae emergency operation, he confirmed after the meeting.
The approval of this emergency fund is in line with the constitution, he said.
He explained that normally following a State of Emergency, the government may make emergency regulations to authorise expenditure from the supplementary budget to meet emergency needs.
He added the meeting has also agreed for the government to support the evacuees who had voluntarily fled to Santo.
Both Ambae MPs Jay Ngwele and Alickson Vira have welcomed the Council of Ministers (COM) decision and Government after five weeks, to have the National Disaster Management Office (NDMO) send emergency food and relief assistance to their approximately 7,000 displaced Ambaean people who have voluntarily moved to Santo Island.
A total of nearly 2,000 people have been welcome by the chiefs and people of Maewo following the Manaro volcanic disaster.
The two MPs thanked the Government for their change of heart to respond to their strong words of concern in an amicable and humanitarian manner concerning the plight of their people of Ambae saying, “We specifically want to thank the Prime Minister, COM and Government for hearing our plea for our people and responding in such a manner that gladdens the heart for which we are truly grateful”.
MP Ngwele called Daily Post with excitement to break the “break-through” news saying he was advised by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Ralph Regenvanu yesterday following the COM Meeting.
“I also wish to thank the Director General of Climate Change, Jesse Benjamin for his contributions towards the positive outcome of our concern,” MP Ngwele says.
