A group of Nuku‘alofa business people have started a “Help Ha‘apai Fund” to raise funds for helping families rebuild after Cyclone Ian.

Sue Leonard, General Manager of Kingdom Travel centre, who spent two days in Ha‘apai after the cyclone, said that there was an urgent need for basic building equipment to be sent there.

“So many have lost absolutely everything and do not have the funds to purchase basic items like a hammer and nails so they can retrieve some of their house material and build temporary shelters.

“One elderly couple I spoke to just broke into tears and couldn’t stop crying. They have nothing left and no children to help them rebuild.  It is a very serious situation,” said Sue. 

“There is a lot of iron and wood around that could be used for temporary shelters. It is our intention to purchase the goods needed locally and take them to Ha‘apai to distribute directly to the people that desperately need them.  We will personally ensure that the aid gets to those that need it most,” she said.

The “Help Ha‘apai Fund”  established by Sue together with Jack Bourke, CEO of Digicel-Tonga, and Dana Stephenson of Stephenson and Associates Law office, will be administered in association with Owen Thomson of the ANZ -Tonga.

“We are continuing to fundraise with the view to purchasing building supplies for the most needy. We have been contacted by several charity organisations that are also interested in supplying building equipment,” she said.

To donate to the fund contact Sue Leonard ‪<sue [at] travelcentre [dot] to>.