| Project Detail |
This project is in response to tropical cyclone (TC) Lola that made a landfall in Vanuatu on 25 October 2023 on the eastern shores of Maewo and Pentecost islands as a category 4 storm, with winds of up to 205 kilometers/hour. TC Lola brought heavy rainfall and flash flooding in low-lying areas and near riverbanks, causing coastal flooding and widespread damage to homes, infrastructure and crops.
Project Name Tropical Cyclone Lola Emergency Response Project
Project Number 57318-001
Country / Economy Vanuatu
Project Status Approved
Project Type / Modality of Assistance Grant
This project is in response to tropical cyclone (TC) Lola that made a landfall in Vanuatu on 25 October 2023 on the eastern shores of Maewo and Pentecost islands as a category 4 storm, with winds of up to 205 kilometers/hour. TC Lola brought heavy rainfall and flash flooding in low-lying areas and near riverbanks, causing coastal flooding and widespread damage to homes, infrastructure and crops.
Initial assessments of the cyclone indicate widespread damage and displacement in the northern provinces of Torba, Penama, and Malampa, with most damage on the islands of Ambrym, Maewo, Malekula. and Pentecost. Data are currently being collected from primary sources, with initial rapid assessment teams and aerial photographs expected to provide more information. Preliminary data on wind speed and rainfall suggest that 75 per cent of housing across Pentecost and Maewo islands has been damaged. Landslides, fallen trees, destroyed homes, damaged schools and damaged health facilities have been reported, indicating that access to affected populations will be a challenge.
Approximately 200,000 people were exposed to the effects of TC Lola, with 110,000 people (30,000 households), or about half of Vanuatus population, directly affected.
Project Rationale and Linkage to Country/Regional Strategy TC Lola has occurred during a period of disasters in close succession. Vanuatus resources were already strained as previous disaster recovery efforts continue following the impacts of TC Judy, TC Kevin and the two earthquakes within a three-day period in March 2023. Responding to TC Lola is of a scale beyond the governments current capacity to restore life-sustaining services to the affected population in a reasonable time. There is a clear need to supplement government resources with additional support from development partners. |
