Vanuatu Earthquake
People Helped
Humanitarian Needs
On December 17, 2024, a powerful 7.3 magnitude earthquake struck near Port Vila, the capital of Vanuatu. The disaster affected an estimated 80,000 people, including 14,104 children and 769 people with disabilities, and forced more than 2,500 people to flee their homes. Extensive damage to infrastructure was reported in Port Vila and surrounding areas.
In addition to the physical devastation, the earthquake caused significant disruptions to livelihoods and essential services. Food supply chains were severely affected, driving up prices for basic goods. Rural households, especially those dependent on subsistence farming and small-scale businesses, have suffered heavy losses of crops, livestock, and tools, increasing their vulnerability to food insecurity.
The earthquake also heightened risks for women, children, and other vulnerable groups. Overcrowding and limited privacy in evacuation centres typically increase the likelihood of gender-based violence. Meanwhile, people with disabilities and older people face additional challenges in accessing the services and support they need.
Humanitarian Response
Save the Children has been a leading humanitarian organization in Vanuatu for more than 40 years, with a proven track record in delivering emergency response and development programs across the Pacific. Its long-standing presence in the region ensures that Save the Children has deep contextual knowledge, established community trust, and strong partnerships with local stakeholders, including government agencies, community-based organizations, and other humanitarian peers.
In response to the Port Vila earthquake, Save the Children and its local partner will provide shelter items, gender-responsive hygiene kits and psychosocial support services through child-friendly spaces to approximately 3,000 people over a period of six months in order to address their needs for shelter, hygiene and child protection.
As such, Save the Children and its local partner will establish seven child-friendly spaces where children can play, learn, and recover from trauma. These centers will be set up in accessible locations near evacuation centers, following community consultations.
Save the Children will also be distributing hygiene kits to earthquake-affected families. Each kit will contain items such as soap, toothpaste, toothbrushes, sanitary pads, and other critical hygiene supplies.
Our response to small and medium-scale disasters is co-funded by Global Affairs Canada, the member agency delivering the assistance, and donations to the Humanitarian Coalition. Your gift will help us be ready for the next disaster. Donate today.