Women leading the way in disaster readiness and community resilience

By Agnes Herbert, CARE in Vanuatu

In Vanuatu, communities on Tanna Island continue to grapple with the impacts of volcanic ashfall from Mount Yasur. The eruption’s ash emissions have intensified since late 2023, and wreaked havoc on local vegetation and disrupted daily life. The Vanuatu Government has responded with essential food relief to mitigate these challenges.

During the severe ashfall from May to June 2024, the community Enaquily/Imale faced significant hurdles in receiving aid. Despite careful planning, some households were inadvertently left out due to outdated population data that failed to reflect recent changes in residency and household composition.

Enter Yaken Nikao, a dedicated member of the Community Disaster Climate Change Committee (CDCCC), who became a linchpin in overcoming this issue. Nikao noted, “The confusion with our community’s population data during the ashfall meant that some households did not receive their relief supplies.”

Yaken helps distribute non-food items as part of her role with the CDCCC. IMAGE: Johns Sanity/CARE International Vanuatu

With her leadership and commitment, Nikao took action to address the problem. She worked closely with the CDCCC chairman and engaged with the National Disaster Management Office (NDMO) distribution team to rectify the oversight. “I coordinated with our CDCCC chairman, who liaised with the NDMO team to ensure that those left out received their food rations,” she explained.

Nikao highlighted the critical need for accurate and updated community population data, which she believes is essential for effective disaster preparedness and fair distribution of relief resources. “We must ensure no one is left behind,” she asserted.

Her advocacy led the CDCCC to commit to improving data management practices, with a focus on regularly updating population lists under Nikao’s guidance. “Updating our population data list is crucial to avoid repeating the same mistakes in future distributions,” Nikao affirmed.

Nikao’s proactive approach in Enaquily/Imale not only resolved key distribution issues but also underscored the vital role of women in disaster readiness and community resilience. Her dedication ensured that vulnerable households, often led by women, received crucial relief supplies. Nikao’s commitment to inclusive disaster preparedness highlights how women’s insights and attention to detail drive effective solutions to complex challenges, advancing comprehensive crisis management.

The CDCCC, largely run by volunteers, plays a pivotal role in disaster preparedness and response. Thanks to funding from the Australian Government through the Australian Humanitarian Partnership, these committees benefit from Community-Based Disaster Risk Management (CBDRM) training, supported by CARE in Vanuatu through the Disaster READY program.

In mid-2023, 60 CDCCC members from six East Tanna communities participated in a series of CBDRM training sessions. These sessions built on foundational gender and inclusion workshops, ensuring equitable representation of women in community roles. The training aimed to clarify CDCCC roles, responsibilities, and communication channels from the provincial to the national government, enhancing their capacity to support their communities during disasters.