Four Tongatapu villages received assistance with various projects to establish new rainwater harvesting systems, and to upgrade community halls, funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

The projects completed on 25 August, In Nukuleka and Tatakamotonga upgraded community halls in each village to withstand cyclones and to function as evacuation centres and become a place of refuge during major flood and climatic events. The structural reinforcement and water proofing is a response to the villagers concern over coastal degradation, erosion, saltwater intrusion, flooding and cyclones due to impacts of climate change.

The Minister of Labour, Commerce and Police Hon Pohiva Tu’i’onetoa thanked USAID and the American people for the generous donation that will help keep the community safe in times of disaster.

At the same time, in Sopu and ‘Ahau, 50 rainwater harvesting systems for individual homes and two community centres were installed, providing 136,000 litres of additional water collection and storage capacity for the two villages.

The villagers most significant vulnerability was the increasing risk of water shortages and water borne diseases.

Town Officer Sio Tuiano said the existing water infrastructure had failed to adequately supply water throughout the communities.

USAID representative Cristina Velez Srinivasan said USAID was pleased to assist communities in gaining climate resilience not only with improved water infrastructure  but also with the knowledge on how to maintain an improved, healthy water supply.

This USAID/Coastal Community Adaptation Project (C-CAP) builds resilience of vulnerable coastal communities in the Pacific Island region.

In Tonga, the projects were developed in conjunction with the Tongan Government and members of the communities.