By Holly Hales in Melbourne

Vanuatu will receive an additional $10 million injection from Australia as the Pacific island nation continues to recover from a mammoth earthquake.

The magnitude 7.3 quake on December 17 left 14 people dead, more than 200 injured and thousands displaced.

Most of the funds will focus on the education, health and transport sectors in line with the Vanuatu government’s priorities.

They will be delivered through local systems in a bid to promote long-term sustainability, a federal government statement said on Saturday.

Australia’s assistance aims to aid Vanuatu’s response to future disasters and support vulnerable groups including women, children and people with disability.

Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong said the support was needed for Vanuatu to recover after the earthquake’s tragic impacts.

“Australia and Vanuatu share a deep and enduring partnership. We are family and we will always be there for Vanuatu in times of need,” she said.

The funding injection follows a $7 million package of humanitarian assistance from Australia for Vanuatu’s initial earthquake response.

That package included emergency supplies, funding to humanitarian partners, and the deployment of medical assistance teams and a disaster response team.

Relief efforts have faced significant challenges due to blocked roads, traffic congestion and limited communication networks during the recovery.

A potential health crisis also loomed as aid workers believed about 20,000 people could not access clean water for weeks after the quake.

Vanuatu-based UNICEF water, sanitation and hygiene specialist Brecht Mommen warned the shortages would cause illness to spread.

Nearly 700 Australians had to be evacuated from Vanuatu to Brisbane Airport on 10 RAAF fights before Christmas.