Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters says
New Zealand is making available an initial $750,000 to
support relief efforts in Tonga following Cyclone Gita.
“Initial assessments of the damage are still coming in.
However, it is clear that Cyclone Gita has caused
significant damage,” Mr Peters says.
“This is an
initial contribution that will enable us to respond quickly
to requests from the Government of Tonga to meet immediate
needs, such as emergency shelter, water and sanitation. We
stand ready to provide additional support as the extent of
the damage becomes clear,” he says.
“We will also
be responding to requests for assistance from New Zealanders
in Tonga.”
“Given the force of this Cyclone all
signs point to a lengthy clean-up effort and our thoughts
are with the Government and people of Tonga as they come to
terms with the scale of this disaster,” Mr Peters
says.
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