Migration and Development in the South Pacific

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Migration and Development in the South Pacific Pacific Research Monograph No. 24 and development in the South Pacific John Connell editor Series editor Maree Tait National Centre for Development Studies Research School of Pacific Studies The Australian National University Canberra 1990 © John Connell 1990 This work is copyright. Apart from those uses which may be permitted under the Copyright Act 1968 as amended, no part may be reproduced by any process without written permission. All or part of this work may be copied by members of education institutions and libraries for the purpose of research, study of teaching provided the source is acknowledged National Library of Australia Cataloguing-in-publication entry Connell, John , 1946 — Migration and Development in the South Pacific Bibliography Includes index ISBNO 7315 0668 5 1 . Migration, Internal — Oceania. 2. Emigration and immigration — Oceania. 3. Oceania — Economic conditions. 4. Oceania — Social conditions. I. Connell, John, 1946 — II. Australian National University. National Centre for Development Studies. (Series : Pacific research monograph; no. 24). 304.80995 Printed in Australia by the Australian National University National Centre for Development Studies The Australian National University CPOBox4 Canberra ACT 2601 Australia Abstract For the past quarter of a century migration has been the most important demographic variable in large parts of the South Pacific region. Within the region there is extensive rural-urban migration and beyond the region international migration to the metropolitan states of USA, Australia and New Zealand. The scale of this movement has changed perceptions of development, posed problems for national development (and especially for agricultural development) and con tributed to rapid social and economic change, as island states and islanders have increasingly focused their social and economic aspirations outwards. Pressures for migration continue to increase at the same time as the opportunities for satisfying such pressures are declining, and as international migration becomes an increasingly overt political issue. This collection of recent papers examines the changing context and impact of migration in eight different states in the region, reviewing such issues as the brain or skill drain, remittances and investment, employment strategies of migrants, the impact of migration on inequality and uneven development and the overall relationship between migration and development. Migration is more closely linked to social issues, including education and suicide, than in many earlier discussions and there is also a strong emphasis on the historical evolution of structures of migration. The various papers demonstrate the great variety in the structure and impact of migration and recognize the tasks involved in incorporat ing such diversity into appropriate policy formation. Dr John Connell is Senior Lecturer in Geography at the University of Sydney. He was previously in the Economics Department, Research School of Pacific Studies, Australian National University, where he carried out research in Bougainville, Papua New Guinea. From 1981 until the end of 1983 he worked at the South Pacific Commission in Noumea, New Caledonia, on an international project on Migration, Employment and Development issues, mainly in the South Pacific region, and is currently working on such issues as development in island microstates and decolonization in the South Pacific region. Contributors John Connell Department of Geography, University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia Doug Munro School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Bond University, Gold Coast, Queensland 4217, Australia Francis X. Hezel Micronesian Seminar, P.O. Box 250, Truk, Federated States of Micronesia 96942. Michael J. Levin Population Division, United States Bureau of the Census, Washington, D.C, USA. Terry Loomis Social Sciences Research Fund Committee, P.O. Box 1092, Wellington, New Zealand. Laura Zimmer Department of Anthropology and Sociology, University of Papua New Guinea, University P.O. Box 320, NCD, Papua New Guinea. David J. Boyd Department of Anthropology, University of California, Davis, California 95616, USA. Cluny Macpherson Department of Sociology, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand. Jill White 1 Brick Row Cottages, Swalcliffe, near Banbury, Oxfordshire OX15 5ER England (formerly Agricultural Extension and Rural Development Centre, University of Reading). Jenny Bryant School of Social and Economic Development, University of the South Pacific, P.O. Box 1168, Suva, Fiji. Gerald Haberkorn National Planning and Statistics Office, Port Vila, Vanuatu. Robert W. Franco Social Science Research Center, Kapiolani Community College, 4303 Diamond Head Road, Honolulu, Hawaii 96816, USA. Contents Contributors vi Preface xi Chapters 1. Modernity and its discontents Migration and change in the South Pacific JOHNCONNEIL 1 2. Migration and the shift to dependence in Tuvalu A historical perspective DOUG MUNRO 29 3. Micronesian emigration Beyond the brain drain FRANCIS X. HEZEL & MICHAEL J. LEVIN 42 4. Cook Island remittances Volumes, determinants and uses TERRY LOOM1S 61 5. When tomorrow comes Future opportunities and current investment patterns in an area of high out-migration LAURA J. ZlMMER 82 6. New wealth and old power Circulation, remittances, and the control of inequality in an Eastern Highlands community, Papua New Guinea DAVID J. BOYD 97 7. Stolen dreams Some consequences of dependency for Western Samoan youth CLUNY MACPHERSON 107 Contents (amo 8. Education, inequality and social change in the Rai Coast district of Papua New Guinea JILL WHITE 120 9. Rotuman migration and Fiji A response to uneven development 1.1. BRYANT 136 10. Paamese in Port Vila Peasants on leave or a wage-dependent proletariat? GERALD HABERKORN 151 11. Samoans in Hawaii Enclaves without entrepreneurship ROBERT W. FRANCO 170 References 183 Index 197 ix List of Tables 3.1 Palauan population, 1955-72, with births, deaths, and net growth 44 3.2 Palauan population, 1972-84, with births, deaths, and net growth 46 3.3 Graduating Micronesian high school students, 1970-82 47 3.4 Micronesia ns studying in college, 1962-85 48 3.5 US assistance to the Trust Territory, 1955-84 50 3.6 Urbanization in Micronesia/1 955-80 51 3.7 Destinations of Micronesian students in college, 1974 and 1985 57 3.8 Micronesians residing in the United States in 1980 58 4.1 Total value remitted by Cook Islanders in New Zealand, 1966-84 64 4.2 Remittances by length of residence in New Zealand 67 4.3 Remittances by individual income levels, 1985 69 4.4 Amount of remittances by household income, 1985 70 4.5 Population trends on three islands, 1966-81 72 4.6 Comparison of dependency ratios 73 4.7 Comparison of New Zealand money orders pa id during 1985 74 4.8 Distribution of total cash remittances, 1985 74 4.9 Use made of cash remittances on three islands 76 4.10 Comparisons of per capita remittance use 77 4.11 Trends in company registrations in the Cook Islands, 1971-85 77 4.12 Ownership of new housing on Rarotonga and Aitutaki, 1985-86 78 4.13 Ownership and source of funds on Mauke,8 1985-86 79 5.1 Distribution of Cende population 1982 87 5.2 Annual household incomes in Yandera village, 1982 88 5.3 Marriage and residence patterns among Yandera males, 1982 90 5.4 Sex ratios according to age and location, 1982 91 5.2 Annual household incomes in Yandera village, 1982 91 6.1 Contract and casual labour migration of Irakian men, 1963-81 102 6.2 Irakian contract labour remittances allocation, 1963-72 105 7.1 Dependency ratios by region, Western Samoa, 1976 111 8.1 School leavers in Galeg and Sibog, 1963-83 128 9.1 Population of Rotuma, 1881-1976 139 9.2 Distribution of Rotuman population in Fiji, 1921-76 140 9.3 Economically active population of Rotuma, 1976 142 9.4 Rotuman and Fijian males engaged in selected occupations, Rotuma, 1976 143 9.5 Occupations of Rotumans in Raiwaqa, 1973, 1983 143 X List of Tables (cont.) 9.6 Rotuman families in Raiwaqa: movement of house-heads,! 973-83 147 9.7 Movement of Rotuman householders in Fiji, 1973-83 148 9.8 Rotuman housing status after moving 148 9.9 Education on Fiji population 15 years and over, 1976 149 10.1 Years of residence in Port Vila 161 10.2 The incidence of urban-to-rural remittances 167 11.1 The Samoan population of the United States, selected states, American Samoa, 1980, and Western Samoa, 1981 173 11 .2 Percentage of Hawaii civilian labour force unemployed,l 989 1 75 11.3 Percentage in the Hawaii labour force, 1980 175 11 .4 Percentage of workers employed in retail trade in Hawaii and California, 1 980 176 List of Figures Figure 1 .1 South Pacific region 2 Figure 2.1 Tuvalu 30 Figure 2.2 The trading relationship 32 Figure 4.1 Trends in remittances to the Cook Islands by major components 66 Figure 4.2 The Cook Islands 71 Figure 5.1 The island of New Guinea 83 Figure 5.2 The Cende homeland 85 Figure 6.1 The Okapa district 99 Figure 8.1 School leavers in Rai Coast, 1973-82 127 Figure 10.1 Vanuatu 152 Figure 10.2 Developments in Paamese life-time mobility, 1953-82 164 Figure 10.3 Changes in migration destinations, 1953-82 165 Preface In the present decade there has been surprisingly little work on contemporary migration, and the relationship between population movement and development in the South Pacific (including Micronesia), despite the significance of internal and international migration in the region. The last volume which put together some relevant pieces was based on a conference held at the Australian National University in the late 1970s (Jones and Richter 1981) and recent work (Connell 1987a; Walsh 1982) has reviewed a series of dated migration studies, but included no new data or theoretical considerations, being solely concerned with a limited range of practical issues. Two book-length studies have appeared more recently (Chapman and Prothero 1985; Chapman 1985b), the first of which collected 1978 conference papers on mobility in Melanesia while the second examined issues of mobility and identity with development implications.
Recommended publications
  • 21. Volcanic Ash Layers from Sites 828, 830, 831, 832, and 833, New Hebrides Island Arc1
    Greene, H.G., Collot, J.-Y., Stokking, L.B., et al., 1994 Proceedings of the Ocean Drilling Program, Scientific Results, Vol. 134 21. VOLCANIC ASH LAYERS FROM SITES 828, 830, 831, 832, AND 833, NEW HEBRIDES ISLAND ARC1 Peter E. Baker,2 Massimo Coltorti,3 Louis Briqueu,4 Toshiaki Hasenaka,5 and Eric Condliffe2 ABSTRACT Volcanic ash layers (1-3 cm thick) are abundant in the North Aoba Basin drill sites but less common at forearc sites. Ash deposited on the forearc slopes is liable to be redistributed as turbidites. In addition, the westerly upper winds also minimize ash-fall on the western (forearc) side of the New Hebrides Island Arc. Crystalline components in the ashes are primarily Plagioclase (An90-An44), clinopyroxene (Ca46Mg49Fe5-Ca43Mg33Fe24), olivine (Fo87-Fo62), and titanomagnetite. There are also small amounts of orthopyroxene, magnetite, apatite, and quartz. Glass shards occur in most of the ashes and range in composition from basalt to rhyolite. There is often a variety of glass compositions within a single ash layer. One explanation for this is that the rate of accumulation of ash from several different eruptions or eruptive phases exceeded the background sedimentation rate: there may also have been a certain amount of reworking. The high-K and low-K trends previously recognized in volcanic rocks from the New Hebrides Island Arc are clearly represented in the Leg 134 glasses. All of the ashes investigated here are thought to have originated from the Central Chain volcanoes. The source of the high-K group was probably the Central Basin volcanoes of Santa Maria, Aoba, and Ambrym.
    [Show full text]
  • Buninga Emae Makira Mataso
    MA025 Tongariki TONGOA Population: 415 Households: 83 Houses damaged: 83 1 Aid post damaged 1 School (1 classroom) destroyed EWOSE 2 church buildings destroyed Medical Many cases of diarrhoea, vomiting and eye infections Light injuries due to debris Action Taken (as of 20 Mar 2015 - AM) FALEA S Basic medical supplies delivered ° 7 1 Required Needs ! ⛳⛡⛳☍ ! ! Medical, water, food, shelter TO!NGARIKI ! Tongariki ! ! ⛳☍! ! BUNI! NGA Buningia Makimae Population: 120 EMAE Households: 31 Houses damaged: 27 1 School damaged 1 Aid post destroyed 2 Community houses destroyed 1 Shop destroyed Medical Eye infections Light injuries due to debris No diarrhoea as they are boiling water. Makura SHEFA Action Taken Population: 161 60 litres of water delivered Households: 32 Houses damaged: 9 Required Needs 1 School damaged Medication, shelter, water, food 2 Church destroyed ⛳⛡!⛳☍ Medical MAKIRA 1 injury but no further information General sickness Some children treated with flu like symptoms Action Taken (as of 21 Mar 2015 - AM) 20 litres of water delivered Some children treated for flu like symtoms Required Needs No food, water or shelter Mataso Population: 111 Households: 37 Houses damaged: 37 Serious injury: 13 Dead: 2 1 Aid post destroyed 1 School (2 Classrooms) damaged 2 Church destroyed Medical Some diarrhoea Many light injuries due to debris that are being to get infected 3 injuries requirering medical care. One of these has been evacutaed by assessment team, 2 still require evacuation MATASO - MATAH ALAM Action Taken (as of 20 Mar 2015 - AM) ⛳☍! 20 litres of water delivered Some injuries treated and some medicine supplied FITIMASUN ROCK Required Needs Shelter - there is almost no shade, water and psycho-social support ´ 168°30'E Map shows a summary of Settlements the initial assessment, the Points of Interest 3.5 0 3.5 City ⛳⛘ action taken and the needs Health Facilities km Town required by the islands.
    [Show full text]
  • VANUATU the Impact of Cyclone Pam
    VANUATU The impact of Cyclone Pam Cyclone Pam – considered the worst natural disaster in the history of Vanuatu and the deadliest in the South Pacific since 2012 – made landfall on the 13th of March of 2015. The islands of Erromango, Tanna and Shepherd Islands which were directly on the path of the cyclone were among the most affected. Food Security Cluster Cyclone Pam impact maps & analysis Purpose of the assessment Purpose of the assessment The current report describes the impact of Acknowledgement Cyclone Pam throughout Vanuatu. Specifically, it reports on the cyclone’s impact WFP thanks the following for making and path to recovery in the areas of: available time and rapid field assessment reports on which this analysis is based: 1) Agriculture and livelihoods 2) Food needs NDMO 3) Housing UNDAC 4) Markets Women’s business and community 5) Health representatives of Port Vila. Peace Corps The report is designed to serve as a tool to Butterfly trust enable stakeholder/expert discussion and OCHA derive a common understanding on the ADF current situation. Food Security Cluster Samaritan’s Purse The report was compiled by: Siemon Hollema, Darryl Miller and Amy Chong (WFP) 1 Penama Cyclone Pam impact Sanma Cyclone Pam is the most powerful cyclone to ever hit the Southern Pacific. It formed near the Solomon Islands on the 6 March 2015 and traversed through Malampa several other island nations, including Solomon Islands, Kiribati and Tuvalu. On 13 March 2015, it strengthened to a Category 5 storm over the y-shaped chain of islands which make up Vanuatu. Vanuatu took multiple direct hits over 13 Mar 2015 the islands of Efate (where the capital Port Vila is 270km/h winds sustained situated), Erromango and Tanna Island.
    [Show full text]
  • C. Household Living (Dwelling) Conditions
    C. HOUSEHOLD LIVING (DWELLING) CONDITIONS 53 Living conditions vary considerably across Vanuatu, based in part on access to infrastructure and utilities. Those living outside urban areas and towns tend to go without electricity and often lack piped water and sewage systems. On most islands, almost all households mainly rely on wood or coconut shell for cooking – even in Port Vila almost half of households still cook using these sources. In the more urbanized parts of the country, houses have concrete or wood floors. Many households in Vanuatu live in basic conditions. For instance, even though traditional materials appear to be widely used for housing across the country, only 17% of households report living in dwellings with walls made of makeshift or improvised materials. A generally low access to electricity in Vanuatu is an area of concern. At the national level, only 38% of households report having electricity (from main grid, solar, or own generator) as a main source of lighting. Outside of the key urban areas (Port Vila and Luganville), less than 20% of households have access to the main grid, and even that number may be driven by those households that live close to provincial centers. In fact, in most ACs, less than 2% of the population has access to the main grid. Solar power has become an important source of electricity, especially in more remote locations. In some ACs, up to 50% of households report reliance on solar power as the main source of lighting. The national average for this source is 6.3% (as of 2009). Only about 2% of the population relies on small petrol generators, which could be a reflection of high costs of fuel.
    [Show full text]
  • VANUATU – SATELLITE IMAGE DETECTED DAMAGE ESTIMATES Version 1.0 UNOSAT Activation: TC-2015-000023-VUT 20 April 2015 Geneva, Switzerland
    VANUATU – SATELLITE IMAGE DETECTED DAMAGE ESTIMATES Version 1.0 UNOSAT Activation: TC-2015-000023-VUT 20 April 2015 Geneva, Switzerland Description On 14 March 2015 tropical cyclone Pam made landfall over the island nation of Vanuatu and caused widespread damage and destruction. The International Charter for Space and Major Disasters was activated on 12 March 2015 by UNITAR/UNOSAT on behalf of UNOCHA. UNITAR/UNOSAT products and geographic datasets are available at http://www.unitar.org/unosat/maps/VUT. The table below provides satellite image detected damage statistics for regions of Vanuatu. Figures are based upon analysis of satellite imagery acquired on 15, 16, 17, 18 and 19 March 2015, as well as data from outside sources such as Open Street Map. It is important to note the presence of limitations in these data sources and that this assessment is not a field survey and should be treated with caution. This document is part of an on-going satellite monitoring program of UNITAR/UNOSAT for the Vanuatu cyclone in support of international humanitarian assistance and created to respond to the needs of UN agencies and their partners. Please send feedback to UNITAR/UNOSAT at the contact information below. Table 1 – UNITAR/UNOSAT Estimated Damage Statistics for Vanuatu Total number Total number of Percentage of potentially Island of buildings buildings within affected buildings in Confidence (Pre-Event) affected zones damaged zones *Ambaé 3,180 800 25% Low Aniwa 90 2 2% Medium Buninga 30 30 100% Medium Efate 18,000 9,000 50% Medium Emae 420 260 62% Medium Epi 3,500 3,000 71% Medium Lamen 260 215 83% High Makura 60 40 67% Medium Pentecost 4,500 650 14% Low *Tanna 14,000 10,500 75% Medium Tongariki 65 50 77% Medium Tongoa 450 350 78% Medium *Erromango 1200 850 70% Medium *Estimate based on a partial analysis.
    [Show full text]
  • A Survey of Village Subsistence Fishing in Vanuatu
    11 A SURVEY Of VILLAGE SUBSISTENCE FlSHING IN VANUATU Gilbert DAVID and Espérance OLLAURRE1'1 ORSTOM Mission in Port Vila P.O. Box 76, PORT VILA, VANUATU 1. GEOGRAPHICAL AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC BACKGROIJND Extending over 12,200 sq.km, the Vanuatu archipelago is made up of a Y-shaped chain of sorne eighty mountainous islands located in the South West Pacific Ocean (Fig. 1). Most of the islands are of voicanic and coralline origin. They are surrounded bv a narrow stri!' of fringing reefs. There are few lagoons, and the outer reef slope drops rapidly, which means that deep ocean borders the coast. According to the 1979 population census, 94% of the population (111,250 inhabitants) is of Melanesian origin. Respectively 9,970 and 5,180 inhabitants live in Port Vila and Luganville, the two urban areas of the Cou11try. These tm'....ns draw in the majority of EuroI?eans, ...ô,.sians and other ethnic groups from the Pacifie region. Although the popUlation is estimated to be growing at 3.1 % per annum, the population density lS very Low (9 persons per sq.km). However, variations l'an be signifieant from island to island. The population dens1ty can reach over 500 Dersons per sq.km in the smaller islands of the archipelago, such as Shepherd Islands, w'here there are signs of severe land pressure. In the larger islands, a distinction can be made between L.tla."1d areas and the shore areas, most househoids living along the coastline. The country is weIl endowed with soils. About 44% of the total surface area 1S covered by good fertile soils.
    [Show full text]
  • CEPF Final Project Completion Report
    CEPF Final Project Completion Report Instructions to grantees: please complete all fields, and respond to all questions, below. Organization Legal Name Live & Learn Vanuatu Education for Action: Empowering Local Communities for Project Title Biodiversity Conservation at CEPF Priority Sites in the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu CEPF GEM No. 64252 Date of Report December 2015 Report Author Anjali Nelson & Jessie Kampai [email protected], [email protected] Author Contact Information +678 27455 CEPF Region: Eastern Melanesian Islands Strategic Direction: Strategic direction 1: Empower local communities to protect and manage globally significant biodiversity at priority Key Biodiversity Areas under-served by current conservation efforts. Grant Amount: USD 99,990 Project Dates: 01/05/2014 – 30/04/2015 (given 6 month extension due to cyclone to 31/10/2015) 1. Implementation Partners for this Project (list each partner and explain how they were involved in the project) Live & Learn Solomon Islands (a local partner). The partner has an affiliate agreement with the other Live & Learn offices and will work closely with Live & Learn Vanuatu (LLV) as part of the project team. Live & Learn Solomon Islands implemented educational activities in East Rennell as an initial phase of the project. Live & Learn International was a second project partner. The inception workshop, printing and disbursement of resources was supported through the Australian office. Conservation Impacts 2. Describe how your project has contributed to the implementation of the CEPF ecosystem profile This project served to support Strategic Direction 1 by empowering local communities to undertake conservation actions through education and participatory planning. Site locations for the project fell within the priority sites identified by the Ecosystem Profile and focused on communities within these sites that were underserved by other conservation efforts in the broader geographic area.
    [Show full text]
  • Observations of Raptors in the Republic of Vanuatu
    THE JOURNAL OF RAPTOR RESEARCH A QUARTERLY PUBLICATION OF THE RAPTOR RESEARCH FOUNDATION, INC. VOL. 31 DECEMBER 1997 NO. 4 j RaptorRes. 31 (4):303-307 ¸ 1997 The Raptor ResearchFoundation, Inc. OBSERVATIONS OF RAPTORS IN THE REPUBLIC OF VANUATU WADE L. EAKLE 1 WorldWorking Group on Birdsof Preyand Owls,Wangenheimstr. 32 D-14193 Berlin,Germany ABSTRACT.•Roadand trailsidesurveys were conductedin the Republicof Vanuatu,formerly known as the New Hebrides in the SouthwestPacific, to determine relative abundanceof raptors.Three diurnal and one nocturnalspecies were observedduring 74 hr of observationover 594 km surveyed.Swamp Harriers ( Circusapproximans approximans) were mostfrequent and found on all islandssurveyed includ- ing Efate (N = 6), EspirituSanto (N-- 31), Gaua (N = 11) and Tanna (N = 19). PeregrineFalcons (Falcoperegrinus nesiotes) were observedon Gaua (N = 2) and Tanna (N-- 1), while Brown Goshawks (Acdpiterfasdatusviligax, N = 2) and Barn Owls (Tyto alba interposita,N = 2) were observedon Tanna and Espiritu Santo, respectively.Observations of SwampHarriers on Gaua and Brown Goshawkson Tanna are the first reported for these specieson these islands. Indices of relative abundance were calculatedfor each speciesbased on the number of individualsobserved per km traveled. K•Y Worn)s: BrownGoshawk; Accipiter fasciatus viligax; raptor roadside survey; relative abundance;, Swamp Harri• Circus approximans approximans; Vanuatu. Observacitnesde rapace en la Republica de Vanuatu R•suM}•N.--Estudiosde caminosy callesfueron conducidaden la Republicade Vanuatu antesconocido como Nuevo Hebrides en el Pacifico del Sud-oeste,para determinar la abundancia relativamentede rapace.Tres especiedel dia y uno de la nochefueron observadosdurante 74 hr en una region de 594 km. Circusapproximans approximans fueron masfrecuente, y locolizadosen todaslas islas inspeccionadas incluyendoEfate (N = 6), EspirituSanto (N = 31), Gaua (N = 11), y Tanna (N = 19).
    [Show full text]
  • Tanna Island - Wikipedia
    Tanna Island - Wikipedia Not logged in Talk Contributions Create account Log in Article Talk Read Edit View history Tanna Island From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Coordinates : 19°30′S 169°20′E Tanna (also spelled Tana) is an island in Tafea Main page Tanna Contents Province of Vanuatu. Current events Random article Contents [hide] About Wikipedia 1 Geography Contact us 2 History Donate 3 Culture and economy 3.1 Population Contribute 3.2 John Frum movement Help 3.3 Language Learn to edit 3.4 Economy Community portal 4 Cultural references Recent changes Upload file 5 Transportation 6 References Tools 7 Filmography Tanna and the nearby island of Aniwa What links here 8 External links Related changes Special pages Permanent link Geography [ edit ] Page information It is 40 kilometres (25 miles) long and 19 Cite this page Wikidata item kilometres (12 miles) wide, with a total area of 550 square kilometres (212 square miles). Its Print/export highest point is the 1,084-metre (3,556-foot) Download as PDF summit of Mount Tukosmera in the south of the Geography Printable version island. Location South Pacific Ocean Coordinates 19°30′S 169°20′E In other projects Siwi Lake was located in the east, northeast of Archipelago Vanuatu Wikimedia Commons the peak, close to the coast until mid-April 2000 2 Wikivoyage when following unusually heavy rain, the lake Area 550 km (210 sq mi) burst down the valley into Sulphur Bay, Length 40 km (25 mi) Languages destroying the village with no loss of life. Mount Width 19 km (11.8 mi) Bislama Yasur is an accessible active volcano which is Highest elevation 1,084 m (3,556 ft) Български located on the southeast coast.
    [Show full text]
  • VANUATU: TROPICAL CYCLONE PAM April 2015
    Fall 08 Photo credit: Karina Coates | OCHA Second Phase Harmonized Assessment Report VANUATU: TROPICAL CYCLONE PAM April 2015 SUMMARY OF FINDINGS A. WATER, SANITATION AND HYGIENE KEY FINDINGS 1. Many communities cannot access safe water sources. An estimated 68% of the rainwater harvesting catchment structures are broken, 70% of the wells have been contaminated, and piped water systems have been damaged. Water quality is poor everywhere except Port Vila, resulting in a health risk. 2. 68% of the sanitation superstructures have been destroyed, resulting in an increase in open defecation, which was reported to be up to 45% in some places. Open defecation presents urgent health, protection and dignity risks to children, women, and vulnerable groups. 3. Only 30% of households report hand washing, posing a risk of communicable disease. Some bathing facilities are unsafe. KEY PRIORITIES 1. Provide immediate access to water supply through emergency water distribution and restoration of water systems. 2. Prevent the spread of diseases by providing hygiene messages, household water treatment and safe storage supplies and by ensuring household access to soap. 3. Ensure privacy and safe disposal of human faeces by restoring sanitation structures, complemented with sanitation promotion. 4. Ensure dignity and minimize protection risks by providing safe bathing facilities and access to sanitary protection materials for girls and women. 5. Restore protective environments at schools and health care facilities. B. SHELTER KEY FINDINGS 1. Many communities have received shelter assistance and are recovering fast. 2. Population and damage figures, especially in urban areas, are much higher than estimated. 3. Gaps in coverage remain, especially in Port Vila and Tanna Island.
    [Show full text]
  • Vanuatu Tropical Cyclone PAM 2015: Post Disaster Needs Assessmentpdf
    Post-Disaster Needs Assessment Tropical Cyclone Pam, March 2015 Government of Vanuatu Government of Vanuatu Vanuatu Prime Minister’s Office PMB 9053, Port Vila, Vanuatu Currency and equivalents: Currency unit = vatu (VT) VT 108.04 = US$11 Fiscal year: January 1–December 31 1 Exchange rate on March 16, 2015 (Reserve Bank of Vanuatu). Published by: Government of Vanuatu Lead Author: Simone Esler Copy-edit: Anne Himmelfarb Design: MikiFernández / ULTRAdesigns Inc., Washington, D.C. Cover photo: Matasu village, Shepard islands. Photo by Michael Bonte-Grapentin, World Bank Group Supported and facilitated by with financial support by and technical input by Vanuatu Tropical Cyclone Pam Efate Port Vila Tropical Cyclone Pam, March 2015. (Source: © NASA/Jeff Schmaltz. Reproduced with permission; further permission required for reuse.) Table of Contents Abbreviations and Acronyms ....................................................................................................................................... v Acknowledgments ......................................................................................................................................................... vii Executive Summary....................................................................................................................................................... ix Summary of Damage and Loss ....................................................................................................................................... ix Summary of Macroeconomic Impact
    [Show full text]
  • The 'Vanuatu Housing Design Guide'
    Zafir Ameen Vanuatu Housing Design Guide 1-2 Sentence Explanation: The ‘Vanuatu Housing Design Guide’ collates a broad range of research, design process and guidance for anyone wishing to construct a sustainable, and resilient, home. Its core principle is accessibility, ensuring the resources and construction methods are available to everyone. Longer (200-300 Word) Description: The Design Guide outlines a new approach to housing in the South Pacific, with specific reference to Vanuatu. The document is broken down into various sections: research, design process, guidance, and exemplary projects. Thus, the guide provides utility to a wide range of audiences, such as governments, architectural professionals and local people. With the ever-increasing frequency and destruction of natural disasters, a new system is urgently required to create resilient homes in the South Pacific. Rammed earth provides the solution, as it is uniquely aligned to face the many challenges in Vanuatu. Its low cost and high availability ensures it can be widely adopted by everyone. It is a low-tech and easily replicable solution, allowing the local community to independently construct housing without international aid. Flexibility is key, ensuring one house design is not imposed and carbon-copied throughout the island. Accounting for individual difference, various financial situations and site-specific constraints, this document serves as an open guide that can be adopted, and adapted, in all situations. The principles remain constant, yet each design will be tailored
    [Show full text]