The storage capacity in Vanuatu is limited. The two main centres of Port Vila and Luganville have a few storage areas. Shops are family-sized and therefore do not offer sufficient storage space. Bigger companies with warehouses are generally full as they are only replenished three or four times a year. 

For more information on storage company contact details, please see the following link:  4.6 Storage and Milling Companies Contact List. 

Commercial Storage 

There is limited commercial storage available in Port Vila and Santo. As a last resort, it may be possible to temporarily use the cruise ship terminal building in Espiritu Santo if cruise ships have been halted following a disaster. 

Storage Used by Humanitarian Organizations 

Storage costs are high in Vanuatu. Humanitarian organisations prefer to store relief items on their own premises where possible, to avoid rental fees. 

Humanitarian organisations in Vanuatu include but are not limited to ADRA, Oxfam, Save the Children, Red Cross, CARE International, Caritas and World Vision. 

Non-food items stored include but are not limited to hygiene kits, tarpaulins, tents, blankets, shelter tool kits, generators, mosquito nets, etc. 

[1] Warehouse Type: Open storage, container, rub-hall, silo, concrete, other, unspecified 

[2] Warehouse Access: Raised-siding, flat 

[3] Warehouse condition: Appears intact, appears damaged, under construction/repair 

Public Sector Storage 

The Ministry of Health has a central medical storage facility in Port Vila. The facility is strictly dedicated to medical supplies only. 

[1] Warehouse Type: Open storage, container, rub-hall, silo, concrete, other, unspecified 

[2] Warehouse Access: Raised-siding, flat 

[3] Warehouse condition: Appears intact, appears damaged, under construction/repair 

Port Vila: During the emergency response to Tropical Cyclones Judy and Kevin in 2023, the National Disaster Management Office (NDMO) used the Vanuatu X-FOL Fitness Center (map below) in Port Vila as the warehouse to store food and non-food items received and bought by the Government for the response. The Center is secure as it is a fenced indoor gymnasium, and it has sufficient space to also store a few containers (refer to photo below). 

Cartons of water stored at X-FOL warehouse during 2023 response to TC Judy and Kevin 

Buckets of crackers stored at X-FOL warehouse during 2023 response to TC Judy and Kevin 

Espiritu Santo: As the NDMO in Espiritu Santo does not have a dedicated storage facility, the normal practice has been for relief supplies to be taken directly to the affected communities for storage and distribution. At the community level, community halls, copra sheds, Chiefs’ Nakamal, women’s centres and containers have been used as storage facilities. The only downside to this is that it becomes hard to track relief items as there are too many storage sites being used. Schools and churches are reserved to be utilised as evacuation centres. There is a potential MSU site beside the Santo National Disaster Management Office within the Sanma Provincial Council compound (refer to photo below). 

Potential MSU site beside the NDMO in Santo 

Tanna: The NDMO used three buildings owned by the Vanuatu Sports Commission during the response to Tropical Cyclones Judy and Kevin in 2023. The buildings were divided with the first building storing non-food items, the second storing cartons of water and the third storing dry food items (refer to photo below). The sports ground provides a potential MSU site, if needed. 

Building 1 storing non-food items during 2023 response to TC Judy and Kevin 

Cold Chain 

There are currently no cold chain options identified for relief supplies. Most storage sites may not have electricity or refrigeration during the first few days or weeks following a natural disaster e.g. tropical cyclone. Reefers with generators may need to be used as a temporary solution in an emergency for temperature-sensitive supplies such as vaccines.