PAGO PAGO (Samoa News/PINA) — Sen. Ma’o Tima Jr. is hand-carrying American Samoa’s cyclone relief contribution to Tonga.
The $25,000 donation is to assist relief and recovery efforts from damage caused by cyclone Waka when it hit northern Tonga on New Year’s Eve.
The governor’s special assistant, Leitaua B. Alailima, said Ma’o will travel to Tonga to present the donation on behalf of the people and government of American Samoa.
Ma’o co-sponsored the bill that appropriated $25,000 for Tonga.
Gov. Tauese Sunia said the contribution “is the most appropriate humanitarian gesture to our neighbors and is quite consistent with the steadfast relationship we have maintained with Tonga over the years.”
The Tongan government said a total of 12,000 people were directly affected by cyclone Waka.
The hardest hit were Vava’u and other northern islands.
French Polynesia has led Pacific islands helping the kingdom, twice sending its territorial ship to Vava’u with relief supplies. Tahitian emergency workers are stationed in Vava’u rebuilding schools.
Fiji has also sent Tonga help.
International support has been led by Australia, France and New Zealand.
