Cyclone Gita: Shelter for people in Tonga the top priority

People without roofs or shelter are the highest priority for Tonga's Emergency Management Office.

Cyclone Gita swept through the Tongan islands of 'Eua and Tongatapu leaving most people without power and water and others without a home, three days ago.

Nearly 200 homes were completely destroyed on the islands of Tongatapu and 'Eua but Emergency Management director, Leveni 'Aho, said he knows there were a number of other people whose homes are without a roof.

It has been raining intermittently in the country since Cyclone Gita struck and Mr 'Aho said this made it even more important to reach those people.

"We know there are some people out there without roofs but we emphasise to our team and the priority of our government is to get help to those people. Shelter is, they need to get people dry so that they can sleep and do that."

Leveni 'Aho said up to 5000 people had used evacuation centres over the past few days.

"We know there are some people out there without roofs but we emphasise to our team and the priority of our government is to get help to those people. Shelter is, they need to get people dry so that they can sleep and do that."

Leveni Aho said the weather in Tonga was still not favourable and has slowed some of the efforts to clear debris from roads.

He said teams were trying their best to get to everyone.

"And that's been a challenge. It wasn't until last night that we could get the full access, the road was cleared. Because it had taken quite a long time to do that clearance, so for us to send out the assessment team and also get looking at the extent of the damage done."

Aid being distributed to those who need it

Mr Aho said now that access had been established and international assistance had arrived in Tonga, combined teams from the military, police and the disaster office are all helping to distribute aid to those who need it most.

"The distribution of this nature has to be quite systematic in a way because if you don't do this people will complain, someone so-and-so have more than what I have. Minor little things that do tend to hamper our progress. But most of the people are quite co-ordinated and understand it."

He said they would soon be able to inform donor countries and aid organisations what will be needed in the medium term.

New Zealand has sent more than 24 tonnes of supplies, including tarpaulins, generators and temporary shelters over the past few days and Australia has sent similar items.

Mr Aho said Tonga did have some of what he calls 'pre-position' supplies consisting of hygiene and sanitation equipment but the extra donations have really helped.

"There was a considerable amount. The amount that came in from New Zealand and Australia recently is ten times what we had preposition stuff here. We are very appreciative of the support that came through."

However, Leveni 'Aho said they were now awaiting a more detailed list of needs from the Tongan government.

Mr 'Aho said by next week his office will move past the initial rapid assessment stage.

"We are now trying to pass another lot into a bit more detail. The cluster co-ordination assessment which is going into more or the sectorial areas looking at health, education in more details than what we had in the initial assessment. I'm pretty sure that we will improve our information so that we can start addressing these issues."

Domestic terminal damage in Tonga but flights resume

Tonga's Airport Manager said extensive damage to the domestic terminal meant all flights are operating out of its international terminal building.

Flights in and out of Tonga resumed two days after Tropical Cyclone Gita caused mass destruction in Nuku'alofa.

Tevita Kaitu'u Fotu estimated the domestic terminal damage bill will be about US$250,000 because the roof was blown off and airline equipment and computers were badly damaged.

He said the international terminal only suffered minor damage so was still useable.

He told the Fiji Times the power was still off at Fua'amotu International Airport so the control tower was running on generators.