Tropical Cyclone Gita

When Cyclone Gita roared through Tonga, terrifying families across the country’s southern islands,

Takivalu Faasee narrowly escaped with his life.

Much of Takivalu’s roof was ripped off his house before his eyes and debris was flung around like missiles.

Like thousands of others, Takivalu’s family spent the night in an evacuation centre.

Tonga Red Cross has provided Taikavu an industrial-strength tarpaulin to help him keep his home dry.

“It’s been excellent for the family because it’s protecting us from the rain and sun. Plus it meant that my wife and two children can come back home.

Large areas of the Tongan island of Tongatapu and the capital Nuku’alofa have been devastated by Cyclone Gita.

Red Cross teams are distributing relief supplies, such as clean water, tarpaulins to help provide temporary shelter for people who have lost their homes and hygiene kits, made up of soap, toothbrushes, toothpaste and sanitary pads for women.

 “I’m very happy with what we’ve been given because we can move back into the house and be together,” says Takivalu.

In Samoa, Red Cross is responding after the country was also lashed by the cyclone, with homes damaged or destroyed. Red Cross teams have been assessing the damage and going door-to-door to provide relief supplies and personal support.

The massive cyclone also affected the southern islands of Fiji. Red Cross emergency response teams are providing support to outer islands of Fiji, which bore the full brunt of the terrible storm.

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