Gov't Ashika support reaches Vava'u and Ha'apai [1]
Tuesday, August 25, 2009 - 17:53. Updated on Friday, August 7, 2015 - 11:47.
The Tonga Government has to date distributed over $100,000 pa'anga to help bereaved families of 67 persons in Tongatapu, Vava'u and Ha'apai whose lives were lost in the Princess Ashika sinking.
The Deputy Secretary of the Prime Minister's Office Paula Ma'u confirmed on August 24 that the funds were allocated at $2,000 pa'anga per head and taken from a $15 million National Emergency Fund held by Government to aid in times of emergency.
He said Government had distributed funds to families of 40 victims in Tongatapu, and last week they distributed funds and reached families of 15 victims in Vava'u.
"We reached also families of nine lost persons in a ceremony held at Pangai, Ha'apai this afternoon," he said.
Paula added that three additional families who lost three members but were originally from Ha'apai had requested to receive the aid in Tongatapu.
The handouts are Government's immediate response in aid to the families affected by the tragedy.
The Ashika Relief Fund, which is separate from this initial aid by Government, now stands around $860,000 in donations. It is managed by Trustees who have not decided how the fund, which is accumulating quickly in donations should be distributed to the families affected.