Results for Outer Islands

The Friendly Islands Shipping Agency FISA, yesterday 19 February announced its acquisition of the cargo vessel, MV Theresa, to transport cargo to the outer islands of Tonga and to nearby Pacific Nations.

The New Zealand Government has committed $40,000 (NZD) to Tonga's Red Cross to purchase guttering kits for over 500 homes in Ha'apai for clean rainwater collection.

Essential food items were distributed to the people on ‘Uiha Island in Ha’apai on February 5 by the Tonga Red Cross Society. The food was donated by the 'Uiha Community in Nuku'alofa.

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.