Results for Tonga

Tonnes of plastic water bottles have been coming into Tonga through aid supplies since the Hunga Tonga- Hunga Ha’apai Volcanic eruption and tsunami devastated coastlines in January. Volunteers have been collecting bottles and plastic waste from over 1,500 households in Tongatapu, which can be compacted in two balers that were donated by the Australian Government, supporting the activities of a local 'No Pelesitiki' campaign.

COVID-19 positive active cases are more than doubling every week in Tonga, reaching 940 active cases today. A fortnight ago there were 176 active cases, and last week 411 active cases. The current COVID-19 restrictions in Tonga continue for another week. There has been a second death of a COVID positive case with a pre-existing medical condition.

Form 6 and 7 students in Vava’u and Tongatapu will return to school on Wednesday, March 16. Since the end of 2021 most students have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

Two fire trucks and firefighting equipment were presented to the Tonga Fire and Emergency Services donated by the South Australian Metropolitan Fire Services. The Prime Minister thanked the Australian fire departments, who had provided most of the equipment for Tonga over the last 15 years.

Households in tsunami damaged Kanokupolu village, have received a donation of 55 rubbish bins valued at $16,000, from the Talitha Project, to help in the clean-up operations.

Timote ‘Aho’atu (44) was sentenced to two-years nine-months imprisonment for causing grievous bodily harm to Siaosi Na'a, whom he shot with a pistol in 2021. The judge said the law required the accused to complain to the police if he felt that the victim had unfairly and unlawfully done him wrong. "That law stops you and prohibits you from punishing or killing that person who has wronged you.”

Fiji Water valued at FJD$40,503 for communities severely affected by the volcanic eruption and tsunamis was donated by the Fiji Water Co. and Neptune Pacific Direct through their agent Transam Tonga Ltd.

A donation of FJD$38,000 from the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat and Pacific Island countries towards Tonga’s recovery efforts from the volcanic eruption and tsunamis, was received on March 8.

The disaster stricken island of Nomuka on March 5 received a visit from the Prime Minister Hon. Hu'akavameiliku, who was flown to the island on a Australian Defence Force Chinook helicopter with Australia's High Commissioner, HE Rachael Moore.