ICT and office equipment worth US$55,000 were handed over to the National Emergency Management Office in UNDP's ongoing assistance on Tonga's recovery efforts.

The equipment from desktops, laptops, monitors and servers, network switches, software programs and office equipment was handed over this month, in Nuku'alofa.

Chief Secretary and Secretary to Cabinet and MEIDECC Acting CEO, Paula Ma’u said the ICT equipment provided by the UN Development Program is critical for the Emergency Operations Center (EOC), which hubs key staff from relevant departments and agencies to effectively coordinate the response functions during disaster situations. 

“We rely on timely and accurate information from the EOC to support decision making on the allocation of resources to the affected communities, including sourcing of external support from development partners. The upgrade of the NEOC will further enhance NEMO’s coordination and emergency communication capacities.”

Acting Director of NEMO, Moana Kioa extended their gratitude for the UNDP support and echoed the importance of development partners working towards risk-informed development projects.

The installation of ICT equipment like the remote servers and complementary software’s will enable NEOC staff to provide essential services despite restricted conditions caused by emergency conditions.

UNDP team based at NEMO has been providing ongoing support with the review of the Initial Damage Assessment, the ongoing development of the National Disaster Risk Management Framework, and the provision of in-house training to the team.

These activities further support the operationalization of robust preparedness systems, which is critical to building community resilience and more broadly linked to the achievement of priorities under the Sendai Framework, she said.

Ongoing support 

UNDP Pacific Office in Fiji Officer-in-Charge and Deputy Resident Representative, Yemesrach Workie said, UNDP has a long history of supporting Pacific governments with their recovery efforts and the upgrade of ICT equipment for the NEOC will complement a proposed larger collaboration with NEMO on strengthening institutional systems and governance processes to mitigate, respond and recover from disaster shocks.

"We are also grateful to NEMO for accommodating deployed UNDP personnel who have been supporting ongoing recovery efforts over the last six months."

At the same time, the UNDP Tonga Recovery project supports other recovery including the restoration of livelihoods through provision of agriculture supplies to 700 affected families, repairing of the damaged NEMO warehouse in Tongatapu, restoration of internet connectivity for NEMO, provision of essential social services through the Rights, Empowerment and Cohesion Project.

While, providing 200 micro loans at 0 percent interest to support Ministry of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises reactivation in collaboration with UN Capital Development Fund, among others.

UNDP's assistance to Tonga Government’s recovery efforts is ongoing since the Hunga-Tonga Hunga-Ha’apai volcanic eruption and tsunami event on 15 January 2022 devastated communities and triggered economic damages estimated at US$90.4 million.