Vanuatu's Prime Minister has rejected calls by opposition MPs for him to resign for ignoring the plight of at least 7000 Ambaeans displaced to Santo by the erupting Manaro Volcano.
The MPs, Jay Ngwele and Alickson Vira, accused Prime Minister Charlot Salwai of turning a blind eye to allegations that the Council of Ministers had ordered the National Disaster Management Office not to release emergency food supplies to victims of the Manaro eruption on Santo.
However, the two MPs later called the Daily Post newspaper to say they wanted to thank the Prime Minister and his Council of Ministers for hearing their concerns and agreeing to send the supplies to the displaced Ambaeans on Santo.
The Disaster Management Office has so far released emergency food supplies to approximately 2000 displaced Ambaeans, who obeyed government calls to relocate to nearby Maewo Island based on their similar cultural, way of life and family connections.
Vanuatu's Charlot Salwai. Photo: RNZ/Koroi Hawkins