1 Jun 2015

Vanuatu holding Brussels disaster conference

2:58 pm on 1 June 2015

Vanuatu is planning an international donors' conference in Brussels later this year to share experiences on the destruction and recovery from Cyclone Pam.

The Foreign Affairs Minister, Sato Kilman, says a disaster assessment report will be presented to donors and friends of Vanuatu during discussions on how they can assist further.

The PACNEWS agency quotes Mr Kilman as saying his government is having the event in Brussels because it wants European Union participation, especially in addressing Vanuatu's vulnerabilities to climate change and disaster.

While the final assessment of the impact of Cyclone Pam is still being completed, Mr Kilman estimates recovery costs could reach $US570 million dollars.

Hanging the washing out to dry on Emae island, the house has no roof so that is drying out too.

Cyclone Pam devastated much of Vanuatu in March Photo: RNZI / Koroi Hawkins