CARITAS AOTEAROA NEW ZEALAND
MEDIA RELEASE – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
13 January 2014
Caritas pledges $40,000 to Tonga in wake of Tropical Cyclone Ian destruction
Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand has pledged $40,000 in support of Caritas Tonga’s response to Tropical Cyclone Ian, which
caused extensive destruction in the Northern Ha’apai islands on Saturday.
Julianne Hickey, Director of Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand, says the New Zealand Catholic agency has worked closely with
Caritas Tonga for more than a decade in emergency response and long-term development programmes.
“We expect significant physical and human impact as Ha`apai is a fragile environment, already experiencing the impacts
of climate change,” says Mrs Hickey. In December, Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand and Caritas Tonga initiated an emergency
water management programme in Ha`apai to support five villages acutely affected by a four-month drought.
Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand has worked with Caritas Tonga over recent years in emergency preparedness. “We look forward
to hearing the assessments of the Ha`apai relief committees as soon as communication can be re-established with them.”
Caritas Tonga reports that all normal communication lines to Ha’apai are still down, apart from government and Red Cross
satellite phones.
Sister Senolita Vakata, Director of Caritas Tonga, is today participating in planning sessions with the National
Emergency Management Office to plan allocation of response activities, resources, personnel and expertise, and ensure
all immediate actions are coordinated safely.
Mrs Hickey says Caritas Tonga has particular expertise in providing psychosocial support following a disaster, and
Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand will support this again if the need is identified.
Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand is accepting donations to the Caritas Pacific Cyclone Fund, which will be used to support
the Caritas Tonga cyclone response.
Donations to Caritas can be made by:
• Phoning 0800 22 10 22 to make credit card donations or
• Donating online using a credit card at www.caritas.org.nz or
• Posting to Caritas, PO Box 12193, Thorndon, Wellington 6144, New Zealand.
Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand is a member of Caritas Internationalis, a confederation of 165 Catholic aid, development
and social justice agencies active in over 200 countries and territories.
ENDS.