Wilma causes $5.5m damage at Ha'apai [1]
Thursday, February 3, 2011 - 10:27. Updated on Saturday, May 10, 2014 - 14:24.
THE Tongan Cabinet has allocated $1 million from Government's National Emergency Fund to address immediate relief efforts to Ha'apai the island worst hit by Tropical Cyclone Wilma on January 25.
But the fund will cover only the basic necessities at this stage and rebuilding efforts will come later.
Deputy Prime Minister Hon Samiu Vaipulu and a trustee of the newly established Wilma Relief Fund said on February 2 that the total damage caused by the category 3 Cyclone Wilma at Ha'apai is now estimated at $5.5 million pa'anga.
He said the National Emergency Relief Fund that was initially at $15 million is now down to $6 million pa'anga after funds were allocated for relief efforts for the tsunami and around $6 million for the Ashika payout last year.
He said a first report from an assessment team that immediately traveled to the outer islands the day after the cyclone struck reported that 86 homes were destroyed with 75 percent of the fruit crops and crops damaged.
It is understood that the island had about three weeks of food left, so providing immediate food will be one of the immediate assistance under this immediate relief fund.
The Deputy Minister together with the Minister of Health Hon 'Uliti Uata, who is also a trustee of the fund, were to travel to Ha'apai on February 3, to meet town officers and those affected to hear what their needs are in relation to the immediate relief efforts needed.
Samiu also pointed that apart from food one of the immediate needs that would be addressed was repairing the roads and school buildings that had been damaged.
The Tonga Red Cross after the cyclone distributed 300 tents and more would be provided for temporary shelter to those whose homes were destroyed. The building of homes would come later in Government's longer relief efforts.
The relief fund is administered by the National Emergency Coordination Committee (NECC) under the Ministry of Works.
'Uiha worst hit
Director of Works Leveni 'Aho said that 'Uiha was the worst hit by the cyclone as the ocean water surged inland affecting low lying islands damaging homes along the coast.
Also damaged was the Matafonua Resort on Foa and the Mala'e Lahi Cemetery on 'Uiha was partially damaged.
Leveni pointed out that most of the 86 homes destroyed were at 'Uiha and the Lulunga islands. Destruction of people's homes throughout Ha'apai was estimated at $2.3 million pa'anga
There was also damage to infrastructure such as roads and the wharf as well as the causeway to Foa.
In the meantime the Deputy Prime Minister urged the people on the island to gather the fruit crops they had now, until the assistance comes.
He said longer-term relief efforts would follow later and would look at rebuilding homes but for now they were looking at the immediate relief efforts in relation to basic necessities.
Cabinet approved the fund in a special Cabinet meeting on Monday, January 31 and set up the Cyclone Wilma Relief Fund.