Ambae leaders appeal for more food help from Vanuatu govt

Ambae leaders are appealing to the Vanuatu government to assist with food rations because they have a lack of crops on their island.

Ambaeans who have already returned home after a state of emergency ended in November, are facing a lack of food because their animals have eaten or dug crops up.

The eruption of the volcano at the island's centre forced the evacuation of more than 10,000 residents last year.

The Daily Post reported Ambaean leaders in Luganville have requested that the national government consider continuing to provide food rations for the next three months until their gardens have matured.

Chief Ken Vuvu said they had noted that the government was spending over $US880,000 of funding meant for volcano relief to help the people of Ambrym, which lies to the south of Ambae.

He said obviously there was enough money left to continue to fund emergency food rations for Ambaeans until new food gardens were ready.

Last month more than 80 families were moved to an evacuation centre on Ambrym after the volcano there caused tremors which resulted in massive cracks in the ground and through buildings.