Habitat for Humanity readying response

The New Zealand Defence Force has also delivered 12 tonnes of aid and disaster relief supplies to communities in Tonga affected by Tropical Cyclone Gita. File photo.

Habitat for Humanity is preparing a response to Tropical Cyclone Gita, which struck Tonga as a Category 4 storm after passing through Samoa.

Habitat for Humanity NZ CEO Claire Szabó says the low lying topography of Tonga's main island Tongatapu made it particularly vulnerable to storm surge and flooding during a storm, which would only have made the night more terrifying for its 71,000 residents.

'Thousands of people took shelter in evacuation centres overnight and will now be surveying the damage to their homes. Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone affected by the disaster” she says.

"It takes some weeks for the full picture of the damage to emerge. It appears at this stage that the devastation to people's homes may have been catastrophic.

"We are in contact with our partner agencies in Tonga and Samoa, and are closely monitoring the situation as we begin to assess the damage, and to act.”

Claire says Habitat is planning to help people affected by Cyclone Gita first with shelter kits to assist them to meet immediate shelter needs. These kits include tarpaulins, rope, tools, and other critically needed items for temporary shelter or urgent repairs. After the immediate response phase, Habitat for Humanity will begin supporting reconstruction of homes.

'There is a critical and urgent need to help provide shelter for families in Tonga and Samoa,” she says. 'We're urging people to help us act swiftly, and to show their support for our Pacific whānau by making a donation through our website.”

Calire says Habitat has been active in the Pacific for many years, building hundreds of homes in both Samoa and Fiji. In 2016, none of the homes built by Habitat for Humanity in Fiji sustained damage during Category 5 Cyclone Winston. The housing charity went on to build 100 more cyclone-resistant homes that year with families in Tonga, Samoa and Fiji.

"The immediate provision of shelter is a priority, and our disaster response specialists are being deployed. Habitat for Humanity is asking for the support of the public to start providing emergency shelter.

"When the time comes, we will be there to help families repair or rebuild cyclone-resilient homes.”

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