Vanuatu_PDNA_Web

34 Tropical Cyclone Pam, March 2015
tend to hold managerial posts. It is commonly observed that in coping with post-disaster stress,
the tourism sector often maintains managerial and ground staff such as gardeners while laying off
housekeepers. Thus women’s economic opportunities will probably suffer significantly as a result
of Tropical Cyclone Pam, as women will most likely be the first to lose their jobs from within the
tourism sector.
Recruitment to positions of temporary employment (in debris clearance, solid waste management,
and other activities) should prioritize women where feasible, so that their incomes can be augmented
until the tourism sector recovers. In the medium- to long-term, women should be trained to perform
managerial and supervisory roles.
3.2 Social Sectors
3.2.1 Private Housing
The passage of
Tropical Cyclone
Pam through
the islands
of Vanuatu
resulted in
damage totaling
VT 9.45 billion
to over 16,000
houses across
a number of
provinces.
Summary
The passage of Tropical Cyclone Pam through the islands of Vanuatu resulted in damage to over
16,000 houses across a number of provinces. As the cyclone moved slowly, wind damage to houses
was extensive; but because it was a relatively dry cyclone within the high wind zone, the potential
impacts of water damage were reduced. In summary:
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Over 16,000 houses suffered damage due to high winds from Tropical Cyclone Pam in all four
provinces considered within this PDNA.
There are reports of flood damage to houses in the Torba and Sanma Provinces.
Displaced populations were still living in evacuation centers in Tafea Province at the time this
PDNA was conducted.
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Emergency shelter response by humanitarian agencies was ongoing at the time of this PDNA.
The self-recovery of affected populations is being supported by the government of Vanuatu
and humanitarian agencies, with distribution of tarpaulins, tool kits, and non-food items,
including buckets, water containers, blankets, and nails and other building consumables.
Tropical Cyclone Pam has affected rental stock in informal settlements in peri-urban and
urban areas around Port Vila.
Recovery planning is under way, with the aim of supplementing the existing resilience and
coping systems of the ni-Vanuatu people and of assisting them in building back better—by
distributing building materials and offering technical assistance to make self-repaired houses
more durable and weatherproof.
Housing Sector Background
In terms of Vanuatu’s constitution, all land belongs to the indigenous kastom (customary) owners and
their descendants. The ownership and use rights to land follow customary systems, of which there
are a large number, though very few are legally codified. With some exceptions, land allocations to