NEMO Received Funds From New Zealand High Commission Towards Office Equipment for Outer Islands Operation Centers

08th July 2016 On Thursday 30^th of June 2016, the Government of New Zealand through the New Zealand High Commission Funds Tonga granted NEMO a total amount of TOP$37,025.00 to furnish the operation centers in the outer islands of Tonga.  This will include office equipment for operation centers in Vava’u, Ha’apai, ‘Eua and the two Niuas. 

The CEO for MEIDECC, Mr. Paula Pouvalu Ma’u received the grant from the Deputy High Commissioner, Ms. Adele Plummer at the NZ High Commission’s office in Nuku’alofa on Thursday 30^th June 2016.

NEMO does not have EOC offices in the outer islands and therefore relies heavily on the Governor’s Office in Vava’u and Ha’apai and the Government Representatives Office in the two Niua’s and ‘Eua for their support.  Operation Centers are activated from these offices when there is a declaration of emergency for outer islands but they are not properly equipped to deal with emergencies.

CEO for MEIDECC, Mr. Paula Pouvalu Ma’u was very pleased to receive this fund as this will be a great support and way forward for development of NEMO particularly establishing of Emergency Operation Centers for the outer islands. He stated, “The outer islands are often the most vulnerable to increasing disasters, however the establishing and equipping of outer islands operation centers is a major progress on NEMO’s part in emergency management not only for the outer islands but the whole Kingdom of Tonga.

The Ministry wishes to acknowledge and convey its sincere gratitude and appreciation to the New Zealand government for their continuous and generous support from time to time towards disaster management in Tonga.

The National Emergency Management Office is the Government’s agency responsible for the emergency management in the Kingdom of Tonga through building the capacity of the Tongan community by developing and implementing appropriate and effective Disaster Risk Management policies, planning and programs to address current and emerging threats to the island Kingdom of Tonga.

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Issued by the: Ministry of Meteorology, Energy, Information, Disaster Management, Environment, Climate Change and Communications