Photo: 123rf
The primary concern for Vava'u's recovery is to re-plant crops as quickly as possible to prevent a food shortage says Tonga's National Emergency Management Office.
Tonga's National Emergency Management Office says the primary concern for Vava'u's recovery is to re-plant crops as quickly as possible to prevent a food shortage.
Cyclone Winston passed to the north of the Vava'u island group last week and while it caused just minor damage to infrastructure crops were more severely affected.
A patrol boat carrying the first relief supplies arrived in Vava'u on Wednesday night.
About 85 percent of fruit trees and 60 per cent of root crops were destroyed, and there are fears of a food shortage by April according to the director of the National Emergency Management Office, Leveni 'Aho.
"We need to bridge those gaps to make sure that we plant something that can fast turn around crops, like sweet potatoes and that, to try to bridge that gap til the food chain is back to normal."