Tropical Cyclone Gita - Tonga

Roof repairs following Tropical Cyclone Gita © CARE Australia

Tropical Cyclone (TC) Gita struck Tonga in early February 2018, causing severe damage on the main island of Tongatapu, impacting an estimated 80,000 people (about 70 percent of the national population). The Category 5 cyclone was the worst in Tonga’s recorded history with winds of more than 230km/h causing destruction to homes, water supply, farming land and livelihoods. More than 800 homes were destroyed, a further 4,000 damaged and over 4,500 people were evacuated. 

Australia responded with a comprehensive package of humanitarian support to Tonga that included the delivery of humanitarian supplies by an Australian Defence Force C-17 within 24 hours of the storm hitting and an AUD 500,000 humanitarian response delivered through the AHP. Australia’s overall package of assistance helped address immediate needs, assisted people to return to their homes, reconnected power throughout Tongatapu, and provided support to the island of ‘Eua, which was also badly affected by the cyclone 

The AHP Response

CARE Australia delivered the AHP response with local partners Mainstreaming of Rural Development (MORDI) Tonga Trust and Live & Learn Tonga. Response efforts focused on shelter, protection, water, sanitation and hygiene activities. A total of 10,570 people were reached (53% women; 3% people with a disability). The immediate needs of the most severely affected households across 33 communities were supported. 

AHP response activities included providing families with materials to rebuild their homes, such as tools, nails, cyclone strapping and guttering. Home guttering repair was vital as most households collected clean drinking water from the roof. Each family selected the materials they needed to rebuild their homes and then expertise was provided to support construction activities, reducing the risk of injury and unsafe structures. 

With crops damaged and food supplies impacted, CARE supported land preparation for rapid replanting through the use of agricultural machinery, the provision of soil, compost and fertiliser and the re-establishment of damaged seedling nurseries. The response emphasised the inclusion of all community members in decision-making, including women, youth, and other vulnerable groups. This was supported through the findings of a rapid gender analysis and the establishment of seven women’s groups to ensure women-led action in the recovery effort. 

Response Highlights

• Localisation was at the core of the response, with CARE’s national partner MORDI leading the effort. It was the first time MORDI had delivered an emergency response and the support from CARE substantially increased the technical and leadership capacity of MORDI to implement future humanitarian responses. This was verified during the response evaluation. 

• The response supported 450 of the most severely affected households to rebuild shelter and facilitate immediate self-recovery, benefiting 3,518 people. A post-distribution evaluation found that repaired houses were in good condition and there was clear evidence of safer, more resilient building methods used to protect against future disasters. 

• The provision of livelihood and leadership training to 109 economically-vulnerable women and the establishment of seven women’s groups increased women’s economic and social empowerment in affected communities. The training reportedly generated income for vulnerable families and led to increases in the participating women’s decision-making power and ability to play more active roles in the community. 

• Long-term food security increased and agricultural livelihoods were rehabilitated through the construction of community nurseries and the re-establishment of backyard gardens, directly benefiting 1,300 agricultural households.