India announced immediate relief assistance worth USD 500,000 to Vanuatu on Thursday, in response to a devastating earthquake, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said.
“India extended its deepest condolences to the Government and people of Vanuatu for the damage and destruction caused by this unprecedented disaster and conveyed its readiness to provide all possible support and assistance during this difficult time”, the ministry said in a statement.
“As a close friend and partner under the Forum for India-Pacific Islands Cooperation (FIPIC), and as a gesture of solidarity with the people of Vanuatu, the Government of India has extended a monetary assistance of USD 500,000 to support relief, rehabilitation, and reconstruction efforts,” the MEA added.
India has consistently supported Vanuatu during times of difficulty caused by natural disasters. A key pillar of India’s Indo-Pacific Oceans’ Initiative (IPOI), announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in November 2019, focuses on Disaster Risk Reduction and Management.
India remains committed to Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) and continues to be a reliable and steadfast responder in the region.
Notably, a magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck near Vanuatu’s coast in the South Pacific Ocean on December 17, 2024, causing significant destruction and loss of life. The National Centre for Seismology (NCS) reported that the earthquake occurred at 7:17 AM Indian Standard Time (IST) at a depth of 10 kilometers, with coordinates at Latitude 17.68 S and Longitude 168.03 E.
The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), a specialized agency of the United Nations, notes that the Vanuatu Islands, located within the Pacific Ring of Fire, are particularly vulnerable to earthquakes. Most of Vanuatu’s islands are of volcanic origin and are relatively higher in elevation compared to many other Pacific Island nations. Like other small island developing states, Vanuatu is highly vulnerable to climate change, natural disasters, and global shocks, with limited capacity to cope or recover, according to IFAD.
Vanuatu’s vulnerability has consistently ranked it as the most at-risk country globally on the UN’s World Risk Index since the index was introduced in 2011.