Safety and Protection Cluster allocated $300,000.00 to address Gita worst victims Featured
16 July, 2018. The Safety and Protection Cluster was allocated $300,000.00TOP from the National Emergency Recovery Committee (NERC) to address psychosocial support and to enact social provisions that would assist individuals who have been dealing with the stress of losing their homes and other issues stemming from the worst cyclone to hit Tonga - Tropical Cyclone Gita (TC Gita) that occurred on that 12th February 2018.
In receiving this funding the Acting Chief Executive Officer for the Ministry of Internal Affairs, who is the Chairman of the Safety and Protection Cluster -‘Onetoto ‘Anisi, expressed his gratitude by stating, “The needs of the most vulnerable individuals are a constant concern and priority for the cluster.
With the proper activities, and partnerships, we are hopeful that these coordinated efforts address the most vulnerable needs of the whole of Tonga as they recover from the impacts of Tropical Cyclone Gita.”
Three (3) non-governmental organizations (NGO’s) who are members of the Safety and Protection Cluster were granted funding to support social programming, along with the purchase of 20 water tanks for female headed households in ‘Eua.
These efforts were part of the protection concerns identified within the response and recovery phases of TC Gita.
Tonga Red Cross Society conducted psychosocial support and also distribution as a first responder organization to the cyclone.
Ma’a Fafine Moe Famili Inc. will continue this type of support to Tonga’s most vulnerable individuals, as well as disaster awareness training beginning with a focused set of villages throughout Tongatapu, and will then move forward to complete their project in ‘Eua, ‘Eueiki and Atataa.
The third NGO is the Women and Children Crisis Centre (WCCC) for the purchase of emergency water tanks for ‘Eua.
Although the WCCC has been conducting ongoing psychosocial support throughout Tongatapu and ‘Eua since February, they have identified the most pressing need for ‘Eua on these home visits has been the dire need and access to water.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs will continue to coordinate and monitor these activities working in partnership with the Safety and Protection Cluster members and local communities in the next following months.
