Red Cross responds to Cyclone Heta

Red Cross responds to Cyclone Heta

Red Cross staff and volunteers have been active in three Pacific Island states this week, responding to the damage wrought by Tropical Cyclone Heta.

A New Zealand Red Cross delegate, Douglas Clark, arrived in Niue this morning (8 January), on a Royal New Zealand Air Force flight to assist with an assessment of damage to the island. Initial reports suggest Niue has been very badly affected by the cyclone, with one confirmed death.

In Samoa, the Samoa Red Cross has been distributing non-food relief items, such as blankets, tarpaulins, water containers and lanterns to the worst affected areas, and to vulnerable groups, including hospitals, since January 4. Distributions are taking place on both Upolu and Savaii islands.

Samoa Red Cross Secretary General, Tautala Mauala, says the immediate need is to provide basic shelter items and water containers to affected households, although some food supplies may be needed over coming weeks where there has been extensive damage of food crops.

Yesterday, a Tonga Red Cross representative also travelled to the northern Tongan islands of Tafahi and Niuatoputapu, which suffered moderate damage. Tonga Red Cross Secretary General, Sione Taumoefolau, says that while several houses were destroyed, the main impact was on agriculture. “It will certainly affect agricultural crops and food supplies on the islands over coming months,” he says.

The Head of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies in the Pacific, Leon Prop, says the Red Cross Movement remains prepared to assist with relief and rehabilitation efforts in all three nations, once assessments have been completed and requests for assistance made.

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