$2.5 million emergency appeal launched to provide urgent assistance for the people of Tonga

A $2.5 million emergency appeal to provide urgent assistance for the people of Tonga has been launched by the International Federation of Red Cross and the International Red Crescent Societies.

The appeal will provide safe water, tarpaulins, shelter materials including tool kits to rebuild, household items including kitchen cooking sets and hygiene kits.

Secretary-General of Tonga Red Cross, Sione Taumoefolau says the disaster has shaken the people of Tonga like nothing they have seen in their lifetime.

Tonga Red Cross staff and volunteers have been assisting people from the moment the tsunami alert was triggered and are ramping up the delivery of drinking water, temporary shelters and other critical relief supplies across the country’s many islands.

IFRC’s Pacific Head of Delegation, Katie Greenwood says the damage to some of the islands is truly devastating and it is heartening to see Red Cross and governments from around the world assisting the hard-hit people of Tonga enabling much-needed services and relief items.

Greenwood says the well-coordinated humanitarian response that will bring together governments and international organisations to support local agencies like Tonga Red Cross is crucial in the Pacific.