King launches water tanks project for Niuafo’ou [1]
Tuesday, August 16, 2016 - 16:45. Updated on Tuesday, August 16, 2016 - 16:49.
New water tanks were distributed to 115 homes on the remote island of Niuafo’ou on Thursday, 28 July under a 'Supporting Community Water Resilience' Project launched by King Tupou VI.
Tonga Red Cross Society initiated the project and stated that 5000 litre tanks were funded with collective efforts of partners from the Embassy of Switzerland in Wellington, Embassy of the People's Republic of China and the New Zealand High Commission in Tonga.
The project $364,000 pa’anga was 80 percent funded by the Swiss Government and 20 percent provided by the governments of the China and New Zealand.
"The people on this island are very vulnerable to drought due to their isolation from the main island and the provision of core services by government. Giving them the chance to access to clean drinking water has been a step forward in their development," said a Tonga Red Cross spokesperson.
The King accompanied by Queen Nanasipau'u launched the project at the government office, on the same day he opened the Royal Agricultural, Fisheries and Tonga Made Show 2016, in Niuafo'ou.
King Tupou VI is reported to have applauded efforts made to bolstering the population of Niuafo'ou.
"Tonga Red Cross continues to seek more projects to facilitate the needs of the people on this island, and thanks partners' collaboration that have made it possible to assist the people of Niuafo'ou."