Cyclone-hit Vanuatu gets a new government as coronavirus state of emergency rolls on

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A new government has been formed in Vanuatu a month after its national elections, a period that has seen the country battered by a category five cyclone and placed into a state of emergency over coronavirus.

Key points: Bob Loughman has been elected Prime Minister of Vanuatu

The country is facing a double crisis after a cyclone struck in early April

Vanuatu has no COVID-19 cases, but an outbreak would be devastating

The past few weeks have been some of the most tumultuous in Vanuatu's history — and dealt with by a caretaker government.

A new coalition government, led by veteran politician Bob Loughman of the Vanua'aku Pati, will take control of the ongoing COVID-19 response, as well as the recovery effort following Cyclone Harold.

It is Mr Loughman's first time as prime minister, however he has previously served as deputy prime minister and education minister.

He was elected following a vote in Vanuatu's Parliament, beating former foreign minister Ralph Regenvanu of Graon mo Jastis (Land and Justice) 31 votes to 21.

Mr Loughman's Vanua'aku Pati will be supported in government by the Union of Moderate Parties (UMP), the National United Party (NUP) and a handful of independents and micro-parties.

The Vanua'aku Pati is one of the country's oldest political parties, established almost 10 years before Vanuatu achieved independence from France and the United Kingdom in 1980.

Coalitions are common in Vanuatu's 52-seat Parliament, as political parties rarely win enough seats to form government by themselves.

In his first statement to the parliament as prime minister, Mr Loughman thanked the caretaker government for guiding the country through a difficult time.

"We see coronavirus threatening the whole world. I say thank you to the outgoing Prime Minister and all his Ministers for all the efforts they put in place to make sure this virus hasn't caught up to us today," he said.

"While we were focused on COVID-19, we could never have known Cyclone Harold would add to the burden.

"I say thank you to the outgoing government for the responsiveness they [gave] to all the affected islands."

Outgoing prime minister Charlot Salwai wished Mr Loughman and his cabinet good luck with the dual challenges of coronavirus and cyclone recovery, and remarked that Vanuatu's economy would suffer, given its dependence on tourism.

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Cyclone, coronavirus creates double crisis

Vanuatu's caretaker government, led by Mr Salwai, declared a State of Emergency in late March over the coronavirus pandemic, shutting all non-essential businesses and limiting social gatherings.

The country currently has no confirmed cases of COVID-19, however an outbreak across its islands would almost certainly be devastating.

Limits on social gatherings of more than five people were suspended ahead of Cyclone Harold to allow people to move to evacuation centres.

Many are still stuck in those centres after the cyclone struck on April 6, and it's estimated more than 150,000 people across the islands were affected, according to the Asian Development Bank.

Up to 70 per cent of houses in Luganville, Vanuatu's second-largest city, were damaged by Cyclone Harold.

Long time Vanuatu expert Tess Newton Cain from Griffith University said the country's citizens would be looking for strong leadership as the new government attempts to deal with the dual crises.

"[Coronavirus] is a huge challenge for all countries, and Vanuatu has particular challenges associated with its smallness," she said.

"Add into that all the issues around dealing with the aftermath of this cyclone, which are huge, and it does mean that there's an awful lot of really important work to be done."

Australia has been sending relief supplies to Vanuatu as well as other Pacific nations hit by the storm — however not without some difficulty.

Defence Minister Marise Payne told the ABC on Sunday that Australia had lodged diplomatic complaints after an RAAF plane carrying aid was unable to land in Vanuatu, as a Chinese aircraft was on the runway blocking access.

The plane had to return to Brisbane after reaching its fuel limit while circling the airport, and returned a day later to deliver the supplies.

"It's absolutely regrettable that we were delayed in delivering those humanitarians supplies," Senator Payne said.

"We have raised our concerns with officials both in Vanuatu and in appropriate places with the Chinese Government."

The ABC has reached out to the Vanuatu Civil Aviation Authority for comment on the incident.

Topics: elections, government-and-politics, forms-of-government, cyclone, epidemics-and-pandemics, covid-19, cyclones, vanuatu, pacific