The humble coconut is playing a vital role in helping remote parts of Tonga to move on from the destructive Cyclone Ian, which struck earlier this year.
via Coconut drives Tonga’s cyclone recovery – Story – World – 3 News.
A government decision and a Parliamentary Motion to stop the construction of temporary houses for the victims of Cyclone Ian in Ha’apai has left the reconstruction in limbo, as the government pursues its objective of allowing only the building of permanent houses at a cost of $48 million even though no one knows where the funding will come from.
via Govt blocks transitional homes for Ha’apai cyclone victims | Matangi Tonga.
Samoan Cabinet endorsed financial assistance of $50,000.00 Pa’anga for the Kingdom of Tonga to help with relief and recovery efforts after Cyclone Ian hit the Tongan group earlier this month.
This amount equates to over $60,000.00 Samoan Tala.
Fans, supporters and Wellingtonians at this year’s magnificent Sevens Wellington tournament are being urged to help out their Pacific neighbours Tonga to assist with relief efforts for Cyclone Ian.The charity Oxfam, which is heavily involved in relief efforts for the devastated communities of Ha’apai in Tonga, will be the charity partner for this year’s Sevens.
via Sevens Wellington to dig deep for Tonga – Yahoo Sport New Zealand.
The Tongan Red Cross says there is an urgent need for more shelter and drinking water in the cyclone devastated island group of Ha’apai before a possible drought sets in.
The secretary general, Sione Taumoefolau, says about 98 percent of people have moved back to their communities from evacuation centres.
via More water and shelter needed in cyclone-hit Ha’apai in Tonga | Radio New Zealand News.
A Royal New Zealand Air Force C-130 Hercules delivering relief supplies for Ha‘apai arrived at Fua‘amotu International Airport early this afternoon, following a request for assistance by the Tonga Government.
The flight was welcomed by Tonga’s Minster of Lands, Climate Change and Natural Resources, Lord Ma‘afu and and the New Zealand High Commissioner to Tonga HE Mark Talbot.
via NZ commits $500,000 support to cyclone-hit Tonga | Matangi Tonga.
Tropical Cyclone Ian has left a path of destruction in Tonga that is being compared to the Canterbury earthquakes.
New Zealand Red Cross aid worker Peter Winthrop is in Pangai, the capital of the worst-hit Ha’apai island group.
He says the destruction is immense, and it reminds him of the Canterbury quakes.
Half of the homes of members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the path of a violent tropical cyclone that struck Tonga over the weekend were destroyed or damaged, according to a church release.
via Half of LDS homes in Tonga destroyed or damaged by brutal cyclone | Deseret News.
Contact with small northern islands of the Ha’apai group, home to about 8,000 people, was lost when the category five storm packing winds of more than 200 kilometres per hour swept through the area over the weekend.
Communication and power is still limited in some areas and there is concern for the well-being of residents on low-lying islands.
Relief agencies were sending aid to Tonga on Monday amid reports of extensive damage to low-lying islands in the South Pacific archipelago after they were battered by a strong cyclone at the weekend.
via Aid agencies head to Tonga amid reports of extensive damage – Yahoo News.