When the island nation of Vanuatu was hit by a powerful earthquake in December 2024, much of the global media attention focused on the damage to the island nation’s most populated areas, in particular its capital, Port Vila.
Many rural and remote communities suffered just as badly. But they did not get the same immediate attention. One of these is the out-of-the-way community of Britano, a village of 750 residents that is a 30-minute walk up a bumpy road from the island’s main highway.
“Before Red Cross came, Britano residents were really stuck,” says the community’s chief, George John. “Unlike other areas, we cannot survive on food from the garden because we don’t have room for plots of land.”
Britano was hit particularly hard by the quake because it destroyed the very businesses and livelihoods people relied on to pay for food, school fees and basic needs.
Local resident Meriam Motoutorua says people are finding it hard to make ends meet.
“Most of us worked in the city [Port Vila], but after the earthquake we have no income,” she said. “We relied on the market to buy our food. It is really hard to provide daily meals, pay school registration fees and bills. Now, all people can do is sit at home and worry where their next meal is coming from.”
Britano resident Meriam Motoutorua says following the earthquake, the water supply was disrupted and children started getting sick from lack of clean water.
Photo: Philippe Carillo/IFRC
Water sources destroyed
Britano also lost its only source of clean, safe water. Water from Britano’s six mains taps were reduced to a dribble, forcing residents to wash and collect water from a creek down in a steep nearby valley.
“Women are washing their clothes in the river down there,” says Andrew Nayo, Britano’s community chairman. “They go there and bring the water back.”
Not only is it a long trek with heavy water bottles, the water itself is not safe. “This water is mixed with the waste coming from people using the spring,” adds Motoutorua.
Andrew Nayo, Britano community chairman, says that the earthquake damaged the commnunity’s six mains water taps, so water supplies were reduced to a dribble. This forced residents to talk for hour to wash and collect water from a creek.
Photo: Philippe Carillo/IFRC
Water brings new hope to a neglected community
Within days after the quake, Britano was still waiting for news from the outside world. The first sign that help was on the way was when a Vanuatu Red Cross team arrived to conduct a health assessment and distribute water.
They quickly reported back to headquarters and soon after, Dickinson Tevi, the VRCS Secretary General, arrived with his team to take stock of what was needed. Britano’s leaders told him: “We urgently need help solve the lack of clean water.”
The help they needed has now arrived in the form of two 6,000-litre water tanks, installed atop a solid foundation of rock and concrete. It was a challenging project, not least because of Britano’s hard-to-access location and rocky ground, which made digging the foundation a difficult task. Getting permission to build also required negotiating with land owners.
From the beginning, it was a team effort. The Vanuatu Red Cross Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) team engaged with the Britano community to solve the water-shortage problem. The Vanuatu Red Cross engaged community labourers and ordered the tanks and building materials that would be used to create a roof-like structure for capturing large volumes of rainwater.
Project coordinator Johnny Mereka kept the workers on task and while women of the community prepared food to keep up the energy and morale. Now, the plan is create a space under the water-collection roof that will serve as a much-needed “safe house” in times of disaster.
“Britano is so happy to get the two water tanks because it’s the first time we have water on site, which is a great help,” says Mereka.
Red Cross WASH specialist Richard Tabeva, who worked with the community to realise the water-capture project, says it’s hard to put into words what the project means to Britano, because water supply was a problem even before the earthquake. “Over so many years, they have never had something like this, so it is good to see,” he said.
Britano chairman Andrew Nayo and chief George John pose by the newly constructed evacuation centre.jpg
Photo: Kate Marshall/IFRC
On to other challenges
With the water tanks installed and a newly built rainwater collection system, Britano can now focus on other challenges.The earthquake rendered the village dispensary unusable, meaning children needing treatment need to make the trek to Kawenu School clinic, an hour’s walk away. Red Cross will replace the damaged floor and reinforce it against future disasters.
Meanwhile, the Vanuatu Red Cross plans to roll out an emergency cash assistance programme next month. It could not have come at a better time for Britano’s most vulnerable residents, particularly people who lost jobs in town or were badly injured due to the earthquake. The cash will enable them to stock up on essential items and help pay school fees.
Reuben and his brother used to make a living selling fish from the bay. After the earthquake, their kayak was stolen. Now his nets hang unused from a tree in the garden and his brother has taken a job picking fruit in Australia. Reluctantly, Reuben is planning to leave his family behind to join him.
“We have to find a way to survive,” he says. “All we can do now is support each other.”
Members of the Britano community organized a celebration after the completion of the water tank, which coincided with a visit from the IFRC head of delegation and representatives of the United Nations Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) office.
Photo: Kate Marshall/IFRC
More than just water
The Red Cross intervention was about more than water. It was also about recognising the experience and suffering of a community that felt forgotten by the outside world. It was also about empowering the community to think beyond water and make plans to use the space below the water collection structure as an evacuation area for future disasters.
For village leader Chief John, it brings a new sense of hope.
“It’s been really hard being the chief of the community at this time,” says Chief John. “The Red Cross were the first ones to come and give us water. It’s the first time someone came here to help us”.
“When you see your child cry, you step in to help,” he says. “Red Cross did the same to us and helped wipe away the tears so we could walk into the future.”
Learn more about the IFRC’s work in water, sanitation and hygiene:
IFRC water, sanitation and hygiene webpage
Read more IFRC World Water Day 2025 stories:
World Water Day 2025: Clean water is about safety, health and so much more | IFRC
