Joint Damage Assessment in Vava’u after Winston Featured
(Photo: The Governor of Vava'u Lord Fulivai, Australian High Commissioner HE Andrew Ford, New Zealand High Commissioner HE Sarah Walsh, Honourable Minister for Health Dr. Saia Piukala, Honourable Minister for Public Enterprises Poasi Tei, National Emergency Management Office Director Mr Leveni Aho and senior government officials during the damage assessment briefing in Vava'u. (Source: DFAT)
23 February 2016. The National Emergency Management Office, Ministers of the Crown, Australian High Commissioner and New Zealand High Commissioner conducted a joint damage assessment in Vava’u on Saturday 20 February.
The island group was affected by the close passage of Cyclone Winston on Tuesday 16 February and again on Friday 19 February.
While there has been loss of agricultural food crops, some damage to schools, the hospital and HMAF Camp Fangatongo, Vava’u has emerged without significant damage to major infrastructure. Disaster management and response experts from Australia and New Zealand were also deployed to Vava’u to assist the National Emergency Management Office to conduct a formal damage assessment.
The resilient community along with the police service in Vava’u has already begun making repairs to damaged buildings, clearing roads and properties and all evacuation centres have now emptied.
Australia delivered 400 mosquito nets in partnership with the Tonga Red Cross Society. The mosquito nets, previously pre-positioned in Tongatapu, will be distributed from Vava’u Hospital to pregnant mothers and others at the greatest risk from contracting Zika virus.
Australia will continue to monitor needs of the Government of Tonga in responding to the impact of Tropical Cyclone Winston in the Vava’u Island Group and to prepare for future crises in Tonga.
Australia is also providing assistance in Fiji which has suffered the full source of Tropical Cyclone Winston on Saturday.
Australian Foreign Minister’s Media Release
