Transcript
A small crowd of evacuees gathered to listen to the prime minister telling them it was important to stick together in difficult times.
I asked several of those listening what they thought of Charlot Salwai's spiel.
"I think it is good that he has come to help us and to see our situation so he can satisfy our needs in this place."
"We are really happy to see our Big Man come here to tell us that things are improving now."
"He has left us thinking it will not be long before he removes the state of emergency on Ambae which gives us courage and calms everyone's anxiety."
Charlot Salwai's message of hope stems from the latest report from the Vanuatu Geo-hazards department that says the activity at the Manaro Voui volcano on Ambae is now more settled and the possibility of a large eruption affecting the whole island is now looking less likely.
However the alert level for the volcano has not been lowered and the director of the National Disaster Management Office Shadrack Welegtabit is cautioning people not to read too much into the report.
"As long as the state of emergency is still in place NDMO and partner agencies will implement the Council of Ministers decision. There is still one more week of it, it will still be in place next week."
Meanwhile, more support continues to arrive on Santo.
The Australian navy ship Huon docked in Luganville yesterday and the French Airforce have arrived from New Caledonia with additional supplies
In some camps where proper tents are now going up children who only a day ago I saw looking scared and dejected are back to doing what children do.
But in others there is still not enough water, food and shelter.
And with all the relief coming to Espiritu Santo it is still unclear what conditions are like in evacuation centres on Maewo and Pentecost where some three thousand Ambaens have been sent.
In Vanuatu, Koroi Hawkins.
