Emergency equipment, including new chainsaws, loud-hailers and protective gear will be deployed to town officers and district officers across the Kingdom, through Japan’s Non-Project Grant Aid (NPGA), to the National Emergency Management Office (NEMO).

The Ambassador of Japan to Tonga, HE Mr Kensaku Munenaga, yesterday handed over to government the first batch of equipment valued at USD$230,000, including 170 sets of protective gear, 199 loud-hailers, and 100 chainsaws.

The equipment was received by the Acting Minister of MEIDECC, Prime Minister Hon. Hu’akavameiliku at the NEMO warehouse at Matatoa on Tongatapu.

This NPGA is valued to USD$1.5 million and provides for a second and third batch of equipment to follow, stated the Prime Minister's Office.

Hon. Hu’akavameiliku said that the donation was a reflection of Japan and their people’s commitment towards building resilience of Pacific communities.

In 2015, Japan and Tonga signed the NPGA, and through this partnership, Disaster Risk Reduction equipment and emergency supplies valued at approximately USD$2.5 million had been provided to Tonga.

“This partnership was a course of action following the Third UN World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction, where Tonga had made clear the call to strengthen preparedness and response capacities through provision of related equipment, and today, we are grateful to be receiving another shipment of prioritised disaster related equipment by our friends from Japan,” he said.

“In so many instances, the finger points to climate change making these disasters more ferocious and frequent. Therefore, it is our responsibility as your government to ensure that transformational transitions towards preparedness are prioritised, and this is only possible through partnerships like this.”

The handover ceremony was attended by NEMO staff, Tonga Red Cross, Tonga Fire and Emergency Services and civil defence organisations.