The Tonga government is planning to convert seawater into drinking water for the outer islands during the current drought caused by El Niño conditions across the southern region of the Pacific. "The government's main concern is to provide sufficient water resources for the outer islands," he told a media briefing at St George Government building in Nuku'alofa.
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Results for drought
Friday 27 October 2023
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
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Wednesday 28 June 2023
Manila, Philippines
An $8 million grant to the Government of Kiribati was disbursed by the Asian Development Bank to help fund drought relief efforts.
Thursday 9 March 2017
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The Tongan Government has signed an MOU with the APEC Climate Center (APCC) for a new Agri-water project to enhance reponses to water shortages by facilitating the use of climate information in water management systems.
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Wednesday 11 May 2016
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Safe drinking water will be easier to access for around 4,000 people in six villages across western and eastern Tongatapu thanks to the New Zealand Government committing NZ$51,000 to Caritas Tonga to restore water supply catchments. Works include renovating and rehabilitating decrepit rainwater tanks and installing new water refill stations.
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Wednesday 24 February 2016
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Irrigation systems for Tongan crops has become a new priority, after a drought in the Pacific last year affected a trial project of planting Zeamays, or different types of corn (Maize) in Tonga that was intended to encourage the expansion of small holder farming.
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Monday 4 January 2016
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Neiafu, Vava'u
Neiafu was hit with three major fires and Severe Tropical Cyclone Ula in one week, but incredibly no lives were lost, Lisa Molloy reported from Vava’u.
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Friday 15 May 2015
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
El Nino has arrived in Tonga bringing cooler nights, the Ministry of Meteorology said in a statement yesterday, 14 May.
Thursday 19 February 2015
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
With below average rainfall expected over the next three-months, drought warnings remain in force for the whole of the Tonga group, and the public is advised to use water wisely and collect as much rainwater as possible during the current peak of the rainy season. However, the El Nino warning previously in force for Tonga has now been downgraded to an El Nino watch.
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Sunday 21 December 2014
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Water shortage plans are being activated while an El Nino warning was declared for the whole of Tonga, by Tonga's Meteorology Service on Friday, 19 December. The current drought for Tongatapu, 'Eua, Ha'apai and Vava'u is expected to continue for another three months.
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Thursday 13 September 2012
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Low lying areas in Nuku'alofa experienced flooding this morning as one third of this month's average rainfall was dumped in less than 24 hours, and brought a dramatic drop in temperature.
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