Under the theme “Remember – Protect – Build Disaster Resilience”, the observance brought together government, UN agencies, partners, scientists, schools, media, and communities around a clear message: while earthquakes cannot be prevented, their impacts can be reduced through preparedness, safer infrastructure, and risk-informed decisions.
This day is about remembrance, but it is also about responsibility—learning from disaster so that fewer lives are lost in the future.
Mr David Gibson, Director General, Ministry of Climate Change, Vanuatu
Strengthening Partnerships for Preparedness and Resilience Vanuatu’s 2026 observance brought together government agencies, technical institutions, schools, media partners, development organizations, and communities to honour those affected by earthquakes and strengthen public preparedness. Led by the Ministry of Climate Change Adaptation, Meteorology, Geo-Hazards, Energy, Environment and National Disaster Management through the National Disaster Management Office and the Vanuatu Meteorology and Geo-Hazards Department, and supported by UNESCO, UNDRR, UNOCHA, UNICEF, and the Ministry of Education, the programme connected science, policy, and public awareness to support safer planning and rebuilding.
Observed each year on 29 April, the International Day in Memory of the Victims of Earthquakes was established by the United Nations General Assembly in 2025 and is facilitated by UNDRR. It is both a day of remembrance and a call for stronger preparedness, safer construction, risk-informed planning, and resilient recovery. In Vanuatu, the message carried added urgency after the magnitude 7.3 Port Vila earthquake of 17 December 2024 exposed the country’s vulnerability to landslides, surface rupture, and damage to critical infrastructure.
Advancing Knowledge and Community Preparedness
The day’s programme combined remembrance with practical action and knowledge-sharing aimed at strengthening long-term resilience.
A high-level national ceremony paid tribute to the lives lost, survivors, and first responders who have faced the devastating consequences of earthquakes in Vanuatu. Speakers emphasized that resilience is not only a disaster risk reduction priority, but a fundamental investment in national survival, sustainable development, and the wellbeing of future generations.
The programme also included a technical presentation and UNESCO-moderated roundtable discussion highlighting findings from the Port Vila seismic risk study. Discussions explored how scientific hazard information and risk data can better inform urban planning, infrastructure protection, building code implementation, and recovery efforts. Participants underscored the importance of translating technical knowledge into practical policies and actions that reduce vulnerability and strengthen preparedness.
Education and awareness formed a central component of the day’s activities. Schools across the country were encouraged to conduct “Drop, Cover, Hold On – 10 Seconds to Save a Life” drills, reinforcing simple but critical actions that can save lives during an earthquake. Port Vila Central School demonstrated how regular practice can help institutionalize preparedness behaviors among students and teachers, ensuring that safety becomes part of everyday school culture.
Public outreach efforts extended beyond the event itself, with awareness messages disseminated through radio, television, social media platforms, and partner networks. These communications promoted practical measures households and communities can take before, during, and after earthquakes, helping strengthen a culture of preparedness throughout Vanuatu.
In parallel with these efforts, broader initiatives are also contributing to strengthening disaster preparedness and recovery across sectors, including within the field of culture and heritage. Through UNESCO’s Heritage Emergency Fund to strengthen preparedness and recovery within the cultural sector. Following impacts sustained during the Port Vila earthquake, support is being provided for the rehabilitation and recovery planning of the Vanuatu Cultural Centre, alongside assessments aimed at strengthening emergency preparedness and response capacities. Work is also underway at Chief Roi Mata’s Domain to assess impacts and integrate disaster risk considerations into heritage management and preparedness efforts. These initiatives recognize that safeguarding cultural heritage contributes not only to protecting places and institutions, but also to strengthening community resilience and supporting recovery processes.
The path forward: Investing in preparedness and safer communities
The discussions throughout the event reinforced that earthquake risk in Vanuatu extends far beyond ground shaking alone. Secondary hazards such as landslides, surface rupture, and liquefaction can significantly amplify impacts, while damage to homes, roads, water systems, and other critical infrastructure can have lasting consequences for communities and national development. Understanding and addressing these interconnected risks was highlighted as essential to reducing vulnerability and strengthening resilience.
Findings presented from the Port Vila seismic risk study underscored the need for stronger monitoring systems, improved hazard mapping, more comprehensive fault data, and wider integration of risk information into engineering practices, land-use planning, and infrastructure investment decisions. Participants emphasized that scientific knowledge must not remain solely within technical discussions but should actively inform policies, planning processes, and practical decision-making.
Discussions also highlighted persistent challenges related to building code implementation and local regulatory frameworks. In a context where much of the housing stock is self-built, ensuring compliance while maintaining affordability remains a significant concern. Participants stressed the importance of developing approaches that are realistic, accessible, and adapted to local contexts.
Across the discussions, a common message emerged: risk information must be practical and accessible, preparedness should become part of everyday life, and resilience must be systematically integrated into development planning and public policy.
Looking ahead, participants emphasized that preparedness begins long before the next disaster strikes. It starts in classrooms, within communities, and through the decisions that shape where and how people build. Vanuatu’s observance of International Earthquake Day demonstrated how remembrance can serve as a catalyst for action and long-term commitment.
Preparedness begins long before the next earthquake. It starts in classrooms, in communities, and in the decisions that shape how and where people build.
read more: https://www.unesco.org/en/articles/unesco-supports-vanuatus-first-observance-international-earthquake-day-strengthen-resilience?hub=701
