Results for Outer Islands

A grant funding of NZ$1.7 million from the New Zealand Government was signed in Nuku'alofa on January 29 as part of a package to rebuild the electricity network in Ha’apai destroyed by Tropical Cyclone Ian.

Living in small tents superheated by the mid-summer sun, while going through the trauma of the devastation caused by Tropical Cyclone Ian, is the reality of life for families in the Ha'apai Group who are relying on outside assistance, after loosing all on the afternoon of January 11. A survey team has estimated that by mid-February the food crops would be used up in all the districts of Kauvai Ha’ano, Lifuka, Foa and ‘Uiha, which were badly damaged. Photos courtesy Mana'ia Halafihi.

Terrified and huddled together inside two church halls, the entire population of tiny Mo‘unga‘one Island – around 100 people, endured the destruction of their village by Cyclone Ian during the afternoon of Saturday January 11.

Tonga's Red Cross is doing “fantastic work in helping Tonga get back on its feet,” said Westpac-Tonga's country head Dennis Quayle, whose staff is assisting in the the cyclone recovery effort.

The Tonga Development Bank (TDB) has deferred loan repayments, and waived interest charges and fees for its customers from Ha'apai for three months, in response to the destruction caused by Cyclone Ian.

The Government of Japan will provide emergency relief goods including water tanks to assist relief efforts in Ha’apai following Tropical Cyclone Ian's destruction.

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

The ANZ Tonga bank today donated $15,000 pa’anga to the Tonga Red Cross to assist with the relief efforts in Ha’apai following the devastation left by Tropical Cyclone Ian On January 11.

In a swift response after Cyclone Ian cut off communications in Ha‘apai on Saturday, Digicel-Tonga Ltd. has put in place temporary solutions to get its mobile phone network restored in Ha'apai. Assisted by Chathams Pacific, Digicel-Tonga chartered six flights to Ha‘apai over the last three-days to get their crew and relief workers over as rapidly as possible.