The Vanuatu Government plans to spend around VT28 billion on Cyclone Harold rebuilding and recovery.

The Director General of the Prime Minister’s Office, Gregoire Nimbtick, says the money will be used to rebuild infrastructure damaged by Cyclone Harold in Vanuatu’s North earlier this year.

Mr Nimbtick says Cyclone Harold damaged many buildings and facilities that the public rely on, such as schools, clinics, hospitals and evacuation centers.

He says repairs are also needed to repair damaged roads, wharfs, airports and telecommunication facilities, including the infrastructure used by communications companies, Digicel and Vodafone.

Mr Nimbtick says the Government will hold bilateral meetings with its development partners to seek assistance for the recovery activities.

He says development partners such as the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank and others have shown interest in helping Vanuatu fund the repairs.

“Next week the Government will work with our development partners to determine how much money they can contribute to the reconstruction effort and how much the Vanuatu Government will need to put in,” he said.

“The Government’s priority areas for recovery are important services such as damaged health and education facilities.”

There is a national recovery plan that will guide the Government’s work with its development partners on Cyclone Harold repairs and reconstruction.

The Government-declared State of Emergency for Cyclone Harold ended on 9 August.