Three months after a 7.3 magnitude earthquake hit Vanuatu’s capital, Port Vila, recovery efforts for many have been slow. Many businesses remain shut - and others are still in danger from damaged buildings.
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00:00These streets are normally full of life, and now they're completely empty.
00:08It's like a coaster, nobody lives here.
00:10It could be years until Port Vila's CPT is functioning normally.
00:16260 buildings have been earmarked for demolition.
00:23This is pulling Vanuatu backwards, 30, 40, 50 years back.
00:27But the newly sworn-in prime minister says he wants the area open for business.
00:33I've told the private sector that the sooner the better.
00:38They are proposing June, I said no, I want it open now.
00:42He's announced a 100-day plan with funding for demolitions and to support impacted businesses.
00:49But progress has been slow, and the damaged buildings still pose a risk to people.
00:56But this widow and grandmother is living in the shadow of a damaged building she worries
01:03could collapse at any moment.
01:05We're not sleeping well, I don't know how, but we just live like this.
01:11The building's owner wants her to move elsewhere so they can demolish.
01:16This is where she brought up her children, so she doesn't know where she's going to relocate to.
01:21Some say there is still a lack of urgency from the government.
01:26We expect them to start helping people, not just talking.
01:31The challenges of recovery come as Vanuatu grapples with a weak economy and chronic political instability.
01:39But even for the worst affected, they still hope Cyril Mengke's cousin was killed in the quake.
01:47How are you feeling?
01:48Well, I think everyone's broken.
01:51Everyone's broken, but Vanuatu, we are resilient people.
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