‘No one was prepared’: Vanuatu feels cost of climate crisis

Before the pandemic, more than a quarter of a million people visited the Pacific island of Vanuatu [Catherine Wilson/Al Jazeera]

Port Vila, Vanuatu – On the waterfront in Port Vila, Mark Philips runs an adventure tours business.

He bought U Power Sea Adventures, which guides holidaymakers through the waters surrounding Vanuatu’s capital, in July last year and was excited about its prospects. Then in early March, Cyclone Judy hit and was swiftly followed by Cyclone Kevin.