The Government of Japan today committed $5 million pa’anga grant to Tonga to purchase disaster reduction equipment and products and improve its disaster risk management and response.

The Japanese Ambassador HE Dr Kazuchika Hamuro and Prime Minister Hon ‘Akilisi Pohiva signed and exchanged notes for the Non-Project Grant Aid, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Nuku’alofa.

HE Dr Hamuro said Tonga has been ranked the second most vulnerable country in the world to natural disasters in 2013.

He said as recently witnessed with Cyclone Ian in Tonga and Cyclone Pam in Vanuatu, changing world environment has increased the force and the number of natural disasters that threaten human security.

"It is imperative for Tonga to develop resilient communities to withstand the devastating effects of disasters," he said.

The Prime Minister said due to its geographic location, Tonga is very vulnerable to natural disasters like tropical cyclones, earthquakes and tsunami, as witnessed over the last few years.

He thanked the Government of Japan for all of its assistance to the works carried out by national emergency management for natural disasters.

The grant managed by the Tongan Government will fund equipment and products it chooses, which will include van and boats for response transportation, power back-up, evacuation facilities, tents and emergency kits.

This is Japan’s second Grant Aid for Provision of Disaster Reduction Equipment to Tonga.