Port Vila/Brussels, 2 April 2015/ ACP/ Embassy of Vanuatu: The African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Group of States has this week responded to the relief appeal by the Government of Vanuatu by sending a humanitarian mission to the islands, recently devastated by Cyclone Pam.

The objective of the ACP Humanitarian Mission to Vanuatu was to meet with government leaders, relevant authorities, aid agencies and local community representatives to identify priority needs of the country to assist in its rehabilitation and rebuilding phase in the aftermath of the widespread destruction caused by Cyclone Pam.

The Mission, led by the Solomon Islands Ambassador in Brussels, Belgium H.E Mr Moses Mose, met with the Prime Minister of Vanuatu Hon. Joe Natuman and other key Ministers of the Government.

During the meeting with Hon. Natuman, Ambassador Mose conveyed to the Prime Minister the sympathies and condolences of the ACP member states in the tragic loss of lives during the height of cyclone Pam on the 14th March 2015. Ambassador Mose also conveyed the support and commitment of the ACP members in providing assistance to Vanuatu in its recovery and rebuilding phase.

In response, Prime Minister Natuman expressed his deep gratitude and appreciation for the political solidarity of the ACP member states. He also used the opportunity to convey his sincere appreciation on behalf of his government and people for the financial pledges, contributions and assistances in kind by Pacific ACP member states, for cyclone relief needs in Vanuatu.

Ambassador Mose also met and held discussions with the Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hon George Wells, to whom he handed a cheque of EUR 20,000 EURO on behalf of the ACP Group for immediate relief efforts in the country.

The Ambassador was accompanied in the Mission by Mr. Noah Patrick KOUBACK, Counsellor of the Embassy of Vanuatu to the European Union in Brussels.

(Photos from top: The Rt.Hon Joe Natuman MP, Prime Minister of Vanuatu (centre); Ambassador Moses K.Mose (left) and Mr. Noah Patrick Kouback (right); Ambassador Moses K. Mose hands over EUR 20000 on behalf of ACP Group to Acting Minister for Foreign Affairs Hon. Georges Wells)

For more information, please contact Ms. Josephine Latu-Sanft at +32 2 7430617, latu@acp.int or Mr. Noah Kouback at +32 27717494, vanuatuembassybrussels@gmail.com.