Editing Vanuatu (section)

===Independence (1980–present)===
The New Hebrides, now renamed Vanuatu, achieved independence as planned on 30 July 1980 under Prime Minister [[Walter Lini]], with a ceremonial [[President of Vanuatu|President]] replacing the Resident Commissioners.<ref name="JM"/>{{sfn|Shears|1980}}<ref>{{cite news |title=Independence |publisher=Vanuatu.travel&nbsp;– Vanuatu Islands |date=17 September 2009 |url=http://vanuatu.travel/vanuatu/history/independence.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110418162231/http://vanuatu.travel/vanuatu/history/independence.html |archive-date=18 April 2011 |access-date=17 September 2009}}</ref> The Anglo-French forces withdrew in August, and Lini called in troops from [[Papua New Guinea]], sparking the brief '[[Coconut War]]' against [[Jimmy Stevens (politician)|Jimmy Stevens]]' Vemarana separatists.<ref name="JM"/><ref name="UCA">{{cite web |title=Vanuatu (1980–present) |url=https://uca.edu/politicalscience/dadm-project/asiapacific-region/vanuatu-1980-present/ |publisher=University of Central Arkansas |access-date=28 August 2020 |archive-date=25 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211225190742/https://uca.edu/politicalscience/dadm-project/asiapacific-region/vanuatu-1980-present/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The PNG forces quickly quelled the Vemarana revolt and Stevens surrendered on 1 September; he was later jailed.<ref name="JM"/><ref>{{cite news| title = New Hebrides Rebel Urges Peace; Willing to Fight British and French One British Officer Injured| work = The New York Times| date = 9 June 1980| url = http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F30F14FA3B5C12728DDDA00894DE405B8084F1D3| access-date = 18 September 2009| archive-date = 31 May 2013| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130531113622/http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F30F14FA3B5C12728DDDA00894DE405B8084F1D3| url-status = live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Bain |first1=Kenneth |title=Obituary: Jimmy Stevens |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/obituary-jimmy-stevens-1426905.html |work=The Independent |date=4 March 1994 |access-date=26 August 2020 |archive-date=16 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201116140043/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/obituary-jimmy-stevens-1426905.html }}</ref> Lini remained in office until 1991, running an Anglophone-dominated government and winning both the 1983 and 1987 elections.<ref>{{cite book |last=Miles |first=William F. S. |title=Bridging Mental Boundaries in a Postcolonial Microcosm: Identity and Development in Vanuatu |location=Honolulu |publisher=University of Hawaii Press |date=1998 |isbn=0-8248-2048-7 |page=24}}</ref><ref name="Steeves">{{cite journal |last1=Steeves |first1=Jeffrey |last2=Premdas |first2=Ralph |title=Politics in Vanuatu: the 1991 Elections |journal=Journal de la Société des Océanistes |year=1995 |volume=100 |issue=1 |pages=221–234 |doi=10.3406/jso.1995.1965 |url=https://www.persee.fr/doc/jso_0300-953x_1995_num_100_1_1965 |access-date=27 August 2020 |archive-date=25 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211225190742/https://www.persee.fr/doc/jso_0300-953x_1995_num_100_1_1965 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In foreign affairs, Lini joined the [[Non-Aligned Movement]], opposed [[Apartheid]] in South Africa and all forms of colonialism, established links with [[Libya–Vanuatu relations|Libya]] and [[Cuba–Vanuatu relations|Cuba]], and opposed the French presence in New Caledonia and their nuclear testing in [[French Polynesia]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Zinn |first1=Christopher |title=Walter Lini obituary |url=https://www.theguardian.com/news/1999/feb/25/guardianobituaries2 |work=[[The Guardian]] |date=25 February 1999 |access-date=26 August 2020 |archive-date=25 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211225190742/https://www.theguardian.com/news/1999/feb/25/guardianobituaries2 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="HUFFER, Elise 1993, pp. 272–282">{{cite book |last=Huffer |first=Elise |title=Grands hommes et petites îles: La politique extérieure de Fidji, de Tonga et du Vanuatu |location=Paris |publisher=Orstom |date=1993 |isbn=2-7099-1125-6 |pages=272–282}}</ref> Opposition to Lini's tight grip on power grew and in 1987, after he had suffered a stroke whilst on a visit to the United States, a section of the [[Vanua'aku Pati]] (VP) under [[Barak Sopé]] broke off to form a new party (the [[Melanesian Progressive Party]], MPP), and an attempt was made by President [[Ati George Sokomanu]] to unseat Lini.<ref name="UCA"/> This failed, and Lini became increasingly distrustful of his VP colleagues, firing anyone he deemed to be disloyal.<ref name="Steeves"/>

One such person, [[Donald Kalpokas]], subsequently declared himself to be VP leader, splitting the party in two.<ref name="Steeves"/> On 6 September 1991 a vote of no confidence removed Lini from power;<ref name="Steeves"/> Kalpokas became prime minister, and Lini formed a new party, the [[National United Party (Vanuatu)|National United Party]] (NUP).<ref name="Steeves"/><ref name="UCA"/> Meanwhile, the economy had entered a downturn, with foreign investors and foreign aid put off by Lini's flirtation with Communist states and tourist numbers down due to the political turmoil, compounded by a crash in the price of [[copra]], Vanuatu's main export.<ref name="Steeves"/> As a result, the Francophone [[Union of Moderate Parties]] (UMP) won the [[1991 Vanuatuan general election|1991 election]], but not with enough seats to form a majority. A coalition was thus formed with Lini's NUP, with the UMP's [[Maxime Carlot Korman]] becoming prime minister.<ref name="Steeves"/>

Since the 1991 general election, Vanuatuan politics have been unstable with a series of fractious coalition governments and the use of [[Motion of no confidence|no confidence votes]] resulting in frequent changes of prime ministers. The democratic system as a whole has been maintained and Vanuatu remains a peaceful and reasonably prosperous state. Throughout most of the 1990s the UMP were in power, the prime ministership switching between UMP rivals Korman and [[Serge Vohor]], and the UMP instituting a more free market approach to the economy, cutting the public sector, improving opportunities for Francophone Ni-Vanuatu and renewing ties with France.<ref name="Steeves"/><ref>{{cite book |first=William F. S. |last=Miles |title=Bridging Mental Boundaries in a Postcolonial Microcosm: Identity and Development in Vanuatu |location=Honolulu |publisher=University of Hawaii Press |date=1998 |isbn=0-8248-2048-7 |pages=25–7}}</ref> The government struggled with splits in their NUP coalition partner and a series of strikes within the Civil Service in 1993–1994, the latter dealt with by a wave of firings.<ref name="Steeves"/> Financial scandals dogged both Korman and Vohor, with the latter implicated in a scheme to sell [[Vanuatu passport]]s to foreigners.<ref name="lasvegas">{{citation|last=Hill|first=Edward R.|url=http://www.vanuatu.usp.ac.fj/library/Online/ombudsman/Vanuatu/Digest/digest_97-15.html|title=Public Report on Resort Las Vegas and granting of illegal passports|date=3 December 1997|periodical=Digested Reports of the Vanuatu Office of the Ombudsman|volume=97|number=15|archive-date=31 March 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110331030518/http://www.vanuatu.usp.ac.fj/library/Online/ombudsman/Vanuatu/Digest/digest_97-15.html|access-date=May 23, 2022}}</ref><ref name="FH">{{cite web |title=Freedom in the World 1999 – Vanuatu |url=https://www.refworld.org/docid/5278c6c31a.html |publisher=Freedom House |access-date=27 August 2020}}</ref>

In 1996, Vohor and President [[Jean-Marie Léyé]] were briefly abducted by the [[Vanuatu Mobile Force]] over a pay dispute and later released unharmed.<ref>{{cite book |first=William F. S. |last=Miles |title=Bridging Mental Boundaries in a Postcolonial Microcosm: Identity and Development in Vanuatu |location=Honolulu |publisher=University of Hawaii Press |date=1998 |isbn=0-8248-2048-7 |page=26}}</ref><ref name="UCA"/> A riot occurred in Port Vila in 1998 when savers attempted to withdraw funds from the [[Vanuatu National Provident Fund]] following allegations of financial impropriety, prompting the government to declare a brief state of emergency.<ref name="UCA"/><ref name="FH"/> A Comprehensive Reform Program was enacted in the 1998 with the aim of improving economic performance and cracking down on government corruption.<ref name="FH"/> At the [[1998 Vanuatuan general election]] the UMP were unseated by the VP under Donald Kalpokas.<ref name="UCA"/><ref name=M>{{cite book |last=Miles |first=William F. S. |title=Bridging Mental Boundaries in a Postcolonial Microcosm: Identity and Development in Vanuatu |location=Honolulu |publisher=University of Hawaii Press |date=1998 |isbn=0-8248-2048-7 |page=27}}</ref><ref name=N>{{cite book |last1=Nohlen |first1=Dieter |author-link1=Dieter Nohlen |first2=Florian |last2=Grotz |first3=Christof |last3=Hartmann |date=2001 |title=Elections in Asia: A data handbook, Volume II |page=843 |publisher=OUP Oxford |isbn=0-19-924959-8}}</ref> He lasted only a year, resigning when threatened with a no confidence vote, replaced by Barak Sopé of the MPP in 1999, himself unseated in a no confidence vote in 2001.<ref>{{cite web |title=The 5th Prime Minister |url=https://dailypost.vu/independence/the-5th-prime-minister/article_c2ee4f24-d799-11ea-bda5-373df9dd4ec0.html |work=The Daily Post |date=30 July 2020 |access-date=27 August 2020 |archive-date=31 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220331013504/https://www.dailypost.vu/independence/the-5th-prime-minister/article_c2ee4f24-d799-11ea-bda5-373df9dd4ec0.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="FH"/> Despite the political uncertainty Vanuatu's economy continued to grow in this period, fuelled by high demand for Vanuatu beef, tourism, remittances from foreign workers, and large aid packages from the [[Asian Development Bank]] (in 1997) and the US [[Millennium Challenge Corporation|Millennium Challenge]] fund (in 2005).<ref name="LP">{{cite web |title=History in Vanuatu |url=https://www.lonelyplanet.com/vanuatu/background/history/a/nar/59af944c-e46f-47af-bdba-0be954fb7cd2/362974 |publisher=Lonely Planet |access-date=28 August 2020 |archive-date=25 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211225200753/https://www.lonelyplanet.com/vanuatu/background/history/a/nar/59af944c-e46f-47af-bdba-0be954fb7cd2/362974 |url-status=live }}</ref> Vanuatu was removed from the [[OECD]] list of 'uncooperative tax havens' in 2003 and joined the [[World Trade Organization]] in 2011.<ref name="LP"/><ref name="BBC">{{cite news |title=Vanuatu – timeline |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-16426561 |publisher=BBC |access-date=28 August 2020 |archive-date=25 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211225190751/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-16426561 |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[File:Devastation after Cyclone Pam 14 March 2015.jpg|thumb|left|Devastation caused by [[Cyclone Pam]] in 2015]]
[[Edward Natapei]] of the VP became prime minister in 2001 and went on to win the [[2002 Vanuatuan general election]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ipu.org/parline-e/reports/arc/2345_02.htm |title=Vanuatu: Elections held in 2002 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110610212958/http://www.ipu.org/parline-e/reports/arc/2345_02.htm |archive-date=10 June 2011 |publisher=Inter-Parliamentary Union}}</ref> The [[2004 Vanuatuan general election]] saw Vohor and the UMP return to power. He lost much support over a secret deal to recognise [[Taiwan]] in the [[Political status of Taiwan|China-Taiwan dispute]] and was unseated in a confidence vote less than five months after taking office, being replaced by [[Ham Lini]].<ref name=Appeal>{{cite web |url=http://www.news.vu/en/news/diplomacy/041208-Vanuatu-court-rules-in-favor-of-Parliament.shtml |title=Vanuatu court rules in favor of Parliament; Vohor appeals |work=Taiwan News (news.vu) |date=8 December 2004 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060927142928/http://www.news.vu/en/news/diplomacy/041208-Vanuatu-court-rules-in-favor-of-Parliament.shtml |archive-date=27 September 2006 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=13726 |title=Vanuatu tosses out the Vohor Government |date=10 December 2004 |work=[[Radio New Zealand International]] |access-date=9 November 2011 |archive-date=2 October 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131002094555/http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=13726 |url-status=live }}</ref> Lini switched back recognition to the People's Republic of China, and the PRC remains a major aid donor to the Vanuatu government.<ref name="smh">{{cite news |url=https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/china-eyes-vanuatu-military-base-in-plan-with-global-ramifications-20180409-p4z8j9.html |newspaper=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]] |first=David |last=Wroe |date=9 April 2018 |title=China eyes Vanuatu military base in plan with global ramifications |access-date=11 April 2018 |archive-date=11 April 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180411085614/https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/china-eyes-vanuatu-military-base-in-plan-with-global-ramifications-20180409-p4z8j9.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=iht>{{cite news|title=Vanuatu lawmakers elect Natapei as prime minister|url=http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/09/22/asia/AS-Vanuatu-Politics.php|agency=[[Associated Press]]|work=[[International Herald Tribune]]|date=22 September 2008|access-date=22 September 2008|archive-date=26 September 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080926134054/http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/09/22/asia/AS-Vanuatu-Politics.php|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2007, violent clashes broke out in Port Vila between migrants from Tanna and Ambrym, in which two people died.<ref name=rnzi>{{cite news |title=State of emergency declared in Vanuatu's capital after two deaths |url=http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=30541 |work=[[Radio New Zealand International]] |date=4 March 2007 |access-date=22 September 2008 |archive-date=22 March 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120322100759/http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=30541 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="BBC"/> Lini lost the [[2008 Vanuatuan general election]], with Natapei returning to power as Vanuatu politics entered a period of turmoil. There were frequent attempts by the opposition to unseat Natapei via the use of no confidence votes – though unsuccessful, he was briefly removed on a procedural technicality in November 2009, an action that was then overturned by the Chief Justice.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dailypost.vu/ArticleArchives/tabid/56/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/6461/Govt-numbers-remain-intact.aspx |title=Govt numbers remain intact |work=Vanuatu Daily Post |date=1 June 2010}}{{dead link|date=September 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dailypost.vu/ArticleArchives/tabid/56/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/5421/PM-Natapei-defeats-motion-with-36-MPs.aspx |title=PM Natapei defeats motion with 36 MPs |work=Vanuatu Daily Post |date=11 December 2009}}{{dead link|date=September 2013}}</ref> [[Sato Kilman]] of the [[People's Progressive Party (Vanuatu)|People's Progressive Party]] (PPP) ousted Natapei in another no confidence vote in December 2010. He was removed in the same manner by Vohor's UMP in April 2011. This was invalidated on a technical point and he returned as PM. The Chief Justice then overturned his victory. Natapei returned to power for ten days, until Parliament voted in Kilman again.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=61412 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120119230037/http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=61412 |url-status=dead |archive-date=19 January 2012 |title=Kilman elected Vanuatu PM – ten days after ouster by court |work=Radio New Zealand International |date=26 June 2011}}</ref> Kilman managed to remain in office for two years, before being ousted in March 2013.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=74783 |title=Vanuatu Prime Minister, facing no confidence vote, resigns |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221223060902/https://www.rnz.co.nz/international |archive-date=23 December 2022 |work=Radio New Zealand International |date=21 March 2013}}</ref>

The new government was the first time the [[Green Confederation]] was in power, and the new prime minister, [[Moana Carcasses Kalosil]], was the first non-Ni-Vanuatu to hold the position (Kalosil is of mixed French-Tahitian ancestry and a naturalised Vanuatu citizen). Kalosil took steps to institute a review of diplomatic passport sales in his country. He also expressed his support for the West Papuan independence movement. Support for this move was also expressed by former Prime Ministers Kilman and Carlot Korman.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.governmentofvanuatu.gov.vu/news.html |title=Vanuatu's Parliament Pass Bill in Support for West Papua |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100724142105/http://www.governmentofvanuatu.gov.vu/news.html |archive-date=24 July 2010 |publisher=Government of Vanuatu}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://pacific.scoop.co.nz/2010/06/vanuatu-to-seek-observer-status-for-west-papua-at-msg-and-pif-leaders-summits/ |title=Vanuatu to seek observer status for West Papua at MSG and PIF leaders summits |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190603160232/http://pacific.scoop.co.nz/2010/06/vanuatu-to-seek-observer-status-for-west-papua-at-msg-and-pif-leaders-summits/ |archive-date=3 June 2019 |work=Pacific Scoop |date=22 June 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dailypost.vu/content/prime-minister-carcasses%E2%80%99-dilemma-helm |title=Prime Minister Carcasses' dilemma at the helm |work=Vanuatu Daily Post |date=28 March 2013 |access-date=24 January 2021 |archive-date=22 April 2013 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130422012140/http://www.dailypost.vu/content/prime-minister-carcasses%E2%80%99-dilemma-helm }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=76726 |title=Watchdog applauds clean-out of Vanuatu's diplomatic sector |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130928235401/http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=76726 |archive-date=28 September 2013 |work=Radio New Zealand International |date=13 June 2013}}</ref> Kalosil was ousted in another confidence vote in 2014, with the VP returning under [[Joe Natuman]], who himself was ousted the following year in a confidence vote led by Kilman. Meanwhile, the country was devastated by [[Cyclone Pam]] in 2015, which resulted in 16 deaths and enormous destruction.<ref name="16Deaths">{{cite web|title=Tropical Cyclone Pam: Vanuatu death toll rises to 16 as relief effort continues|date=21 March 2015|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-03-21/un-raises-vanuatu-cyclone-death-toll/6337816|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|access-date=22 March 2015|archive-date=10 December 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221210003055/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-03-21/un-raises-vanuatu-cyclone-death-toll/6337816|url-status=live}}</ref>

A corruption investigation in 2015 resulted in the conviction of numerous MPs in Kilman's government for bribery, including former PM Moana Carcasses Kalosil.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/287771/calls-for-vanuatu-pm-to-step-down-in-wake-of-mps%27-jailing|title=Calls for Vanuatu PM to step down in wake of MPs' jailing|date=22 October 2015|work=[[Radio New Zealand]] |access-date=25 February 2016|archive-date=20 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181120134221/https://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/287771/calls-for-vanuatu-pm-to-step-down-in-wake-of-mps%27-jailing|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/286931/vanuatu-opposition-ready-to-assist-president|title=Vanuatu Opposition ready to assist President|date=13 October 2015|work=[[Radio New Zealand]] |access-date=25 February 2016|archive-date=17 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190117034237/https://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/286931/vanuatu-opposition-ready-to-assist-president|url-status=live}}</ref> His authority was severely weakened, and Kilman lost the [[2016 Vanuatuan general election]] to [[Charlot Salwai]]'s [[Reunification Movement for Change]] (RMC). Salwai in turn lost the [[2020 Vanuatuan general election]] amidst allegations of perjury, bringing back in the VP under [[Bob Loughman]] as the country dealt with the aftermath of [[Cyclone Harold]] and the global [[COVID-19 pandemic]].<ref name="2020Guardian">{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/apr/20/vanuatu-elects-new-prime-minister-as-country-reels-from-devastating-cyclone |title=Vanuatu elects new prime minister as country reels from devastating cyclone |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201211073718/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/apr/20/vanuatu-elects-new-prime-minister-as-country-reels-from-devastating-cyclone |archive-date=11 December 2020 |work=[[The Guardian]] |date=20 April 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Wasuka |first1=Evan |title=Supreme Court to hear 'abuse of process' application in PM's alleged bribery case |url=https://www.abc.net.au/radio-australia/programs/pacificbeat/supereme-court-to-decide-on-salwais-bribery-and-perjury-case/12065830 |work=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |date=18 March 2020 |access-date=27 August 2020 |archive-date=25 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211225190748/https://www.abc.net.au/radio-australia/programs/pacificbeat/supereme-court-to-decide-on-salwais-bribery-and-perjury-case/12065830 |url-status=live }}</ref> Vanuatu was one of the last places on Earth to suffer a coronavirus outbreak, recording its first case of COVID-19 in November 2020.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://apnews.com/article/virus-outbreak-asia-new-zealand-asia-pacific-united-states-b1c3c7eaf51a6d514b186483def57f69 |title=Asia Today: Hong Kong, Singapore OK quarantine-free travel |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201111235807/https://apnews.com/article/virus-outbreak-asia-new-zealand-asia-pacific-united-states-b1c3c7eaf51a6d514b186483def57f69 |archive-date=11 November 2020 |work=AP News |agency=Associated Press |date=11 November 2020}}</ref> In October 2023, Vanuatu aimed itself at being the first Pacific country to eliminate [[cervical cancer]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.kirby.unsw.edu.au/news/vanuatu-becomes-first-pacific-set-path-towards-cervical-cancer-elimination|title=Vanuatu becomes first in the Pacific to set a path towards cervical cancer elimination|publisher=Kirby Institute|date=4 October 2023|first=Luci|last=Bamford|access-date=24 December 2023|archive-date=24 December 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231224011805/https://www.kirby.unsw.edu.au/news/vanuatu-becomes-first-pacific-set-path-towards-cervical-cancer-elimination|url-status=live}}</ref>

In December 2024, [[2024 Port Vila earthquake|a magnitude 7.3 earthquake]] reportedly damaged almost every single house in [[Efate]], where the capital, [[Port Vila]], is located, resulting in 19 fatalities.<ref>{{Cite news|date=18 December 2024|title=Live: Rescue efforts continue in Vanuatu, international assistance begins to arrive|url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/537080/live-rescue-efforts-continue-in-vanuatu-international-assistance-begins-to-arrive|access-date=18 December 2024|work=[[Radio New Zealand]]}}</ref> The [[United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs]] estimated that 116,000 people had been directly affected by the earthquake,<ref>{{Cite news |date=17 December 2024 |title=Buildings 'pancaked' in Vanuatu as 7.4 magnitude earthquake rocks Pacific nation |url=https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/australasia/article/3291135/buildings-pancaked-vanuatu-74-magnitude-earthquake-rocks-pacific-nation |access-date=17 December 2024 |work=South China Morning Post}}</ref> equivalent to a third of Vanuatu's population.<ref>{{Cite news |date=18 December 2024 |title=Vanuatu earthquake death toll rises to 14 as rescuers search for survivors |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/12/18/vanuatu-earthquake-death-toll-rises-to-fourteen-as-rescuers-scramble-for-survivors |access-date=18 December 2024 |work=Al Jazeera}}</ref>