 With some residents forced to seek refuge in caves , the Government of Vanuatu asked the Australian , New Zealand and American governments for emergency food supplies and other assistance . In accordance , the Royal Australian Air Force ( RAAF ) dispatched two Hercules transport planes to help with recovery efforts . The first carried a helicopter that transported Vanuatu military forces , medical teams and supplies to the affected northern islands , especially remote villages inaccessible to larger aircraft . The other plane was used to transport more than 16 @,@ 000 kilograms ( 35 @,@ 000 lb ) of fuel and relief supplies including food and shelter provisions . The Royal New Zealand Air Force also provided a plane , which transported relief supplies from Espiritu Santo to the northern islands up to three times daily , with the bulk of supplies donated by Australia . The European Commission provided Vanuatu with € 100 @,@ 000 in emergency aid to purchase local foods , including rice , preserved meat , and fish , and to distribute it to Anne 's victims . The total cost of relief and reconstruction efforts was estimated between US $ 1 @.@ 2 – 2 million . 
