9 Apr 2015

Vanuatu seeks Russian assistance with rebuild

9:04 am on 9 April 2015

The Vanuatu government says it is pleased with Russia's offer of assistance with the relief effort after cyclone Pam and says it has asked Russia to assist in the reconstruction phase of the recovery.

Residents of Vanuatu's capital, Port Vila, cleaning up streets after Cyclone Pam.

Residents of Vanuatu's capital, Port Vila, cleaning up streets after Cyclone Pam. Photo: RNZI

The Vanuatu foreign minister Sato Kilman who recently returned to Port Vila from Moscow says he hopes Russia's assistance will simply fit into the ongoing assistance from the international community.

"It is important that development partners and friends do not duplicate their assistance in any particular sectors or areas therefore it is important that Vanuatu finalises the reconstruction plan and then talks to development partners and friends jointly."

The Russian offer follows a series of foreign assistance packages for post-cyclone efforts in Vanuatu this week.

China has officially handed over five million US dollars in relief assistance, while Indonesia flew in supplies worth over two million US dollars.

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