Hundreds of people on Erromango in Vanuatu now have access to safer and more secure water supplies.
Sylvie at home in Pongkhil Village, south west Erromango Photo: supplied
This comes after Vanuatu's Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, aided by New Zealand, UNICEF and CARE, have repaired and improved water and sanitation infrastructure to communities across Erromango.
Lands Minister Ralph Regenvanu said the government's collaboration with its partners in the post Cyclone Pam recovery phase was underpinned by the principle of 'Building Back Better,' especially in the water, sanitation and hygiene sector.
He said sustainable and equitable access to safe and resilient water and sanitation supplies were the focus of the recovery programme.
Community and water committee members, Antioch Village, Erromango Photo: supplied
The project helped communities set up water committees and empowered them to manage and protect their community's drinking water supply in the future.
Thirty six committee members, including 18 women, were trained as plumbers, receiving a toolkit and a plumbers' handbook to ensure communities can maintain their own water system.