The relationship Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand (CANZ) has developed through long-term communication and close cooperation with the Diocese of Port Vila has enabled to provide quick and effective cyclone relief after Harold hit Vanuatu. The possibility of introducing COVID-19 in the Pacific has complicated efforts to provide efforts to get support on the ground in Read more
Tropical Cyclone Harold has presented the challenge of how to respond to two over-lapping emergency responses; COVID-19 and Harold. The executive director of the Council of International Development, Josie Pagani, said that during the lockdown the charities aren’t able to fundraise and the public can’t donate. She said the international aid charities typically get about Read more
Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand is working with communities affected by Cyclone Gita to provide training and repair kits in a joint programme with Habitat for Humanity. The programme will ensure that communities have the skills necessary to rebuild, said Amelia Ma’afu the acting director of Caritas Tonga. The Support to Self-Recovery programme provides timber, tools, equipment Read more
St John’s College in Cawaci, Ovalau, Fiji has been hit by another cyclone, this time by Tropical Cyclone Keni. Although the damage does not appear as severe as tropical cyclone Winston in 2016, it has affected 315 students. The school’s principal, Alosio Saukuru, said they were in desperate need of funds to rebuild so that students could continue their Read more
The Society of St Vincent de Paul has stepped up with financial assistance to help Tonga and Samoa recover from the devastating impact of Cyclone Gita. The Society has forwarded $10,000 to Tonga and $3,000 to Samoa from its disaster relief fund. Tonga’s needs are around health, hygiene and basic food needs; in Samoa the Read more
Veni Uhila watched television in New Plymouth and saw cyclone Gita destroy his Tonga home. The builder had a sleepless night. But he realised how bad things were in Tonga only when he got hold of his policeman cousin the next day. So now Uhila and his sons Taani, 22, and Siaosi, 10, are pausing Read more
The Archdiocese of Agãna, (Guam) has organised a donation drive for residents of Saipan who have been affected Typhoon Soudelor. Saipan is 218 kilometres from Guam, in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI). Catholic parishes, schools and organisations have been collecting non-perishable food items and funds to assist victims of Soudelor. Water, rice and Read more
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Tonga is starting to rebuild 116 houses that were destroyed by Cyclone Ian earlier this year. The church’s Tonga Service Centre Manager Howard Niu says they have signed with local contractor Oregon Pacific International to carry out the construction. Mr Niu says the houses will be Read more
A lawyer representing overstayers from Tonga claims New Zealand is deporting people to some of the most cyclone-damaged areas of the island nation. The immigration lawyer, Richard Small, says the New Zealand authorities are wanting to send Tongan overstayers back to the area, and he has 30 such cases on his books. He described deporting Read more
Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand is continuing to support Caritas Tonga to assist communities to recover and rebuild after Tropical Cyclone Ian devastated the Ha’apai islands of Tonga three weeks ago. It is estimated that 75 per cent of buildings in Ha’apai have been destroyed or have major damage. Crops, infrastructure and water supplies also having Read more