The secretary general of Tonga's Red Cross Society says Cyclone Ian has exhausted the main stockpile of relief supplies in the capital, Nuku'alofa.
Cyclone Ian destroyed homes and possessions on Lifuka Island in Ha'apai. Photo: TONGA DAILY NEWS
The category five storm, which killed one person and injured 14 others over the weekend, has displaced more than half of the population of 8000 in the country's northern Ha'apai islands and wiped out most of the food crops.
Sione Taumoefolau said all of the society's emergency supplies have been sent to Ha'apai, leaving nothing in the warehouse on the main island of Tongatapu.
He says if there is an emergency in Nuku'alofa, where about 75% of Tonga's population lives, the Red Cross would have difficulty responding.
Mr Taumoefolau says people in Ha'apai will receive relief supplies of food after they have dug up tapioca and cassava crops which are flooded with sea water.
Cyclone Ian sent wind gusts of up to 287km/h through the region, destroying homes and possessions and cutting communication links.
New Zealand offered emergency assistance of $50,000 and sent an air force plane to assist with recovery.
One aid agency predicted it would take years for the islands to rebuild damaged property and infrastructure.
Power network out
Electricity company Tonga Power Limited says it estimates it will cost at least $2 million to rebuild the entire power distribution network in the Ha'apai islands.
It says the cyclone has destroyed more than 90% of power lines and poles in the island group when it hit last Saturday.
Tonga Power has about 1000 power consumers in Ha'apai.
