The Tonga government has distributed $66,000 pa'anga to help the families of 33 persons in Tongatapu whose lives were lost in the MV Princess Ashika tragedy. 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.

The Deputy Secretary of the Prime Minister, Paula Ma'u, said today, the distirbution began on Saturday, August 15 with funds given to families of nine lost persons.

"On Monday we reached families of eight more victims and yesterday we rounded up Tongatapu with families of 16 lost members," said Paula.

"We are distributing the funds to the next of kin based on the 67 names confirmed by the Tonga Police to have been on board the Ashika ferry."

Paula said funds were now being distributed in the same manner to bereaved families in the outer islands.

He clarified this aid is separate from that of the Ashika Relief Fund that was recently established to help families and victims affected. He said the Relief Fund trustees would decide laster how that fund, which now stands over $600,000 collected from donations, would be distributed.

He understood that Rev Dr 'Ahio, the President of the Free Wesleyan Church of Tonga had been appointed as Chairman of the Relief Fund.