21 Jan 2014

Tonga asks for help after Cyclone Ian

5:47 pm on 21 January 2014

The Tongan government has officially requested international help for relief following the devastating Cyclone Ian.

One person was killed, 14 were injured and thousands left homeless when the category 5 storm, battered the Pacific nation including the northern Ha'apai group of islands from 11 January.

National Emergency Office director Leveni Aho says it has become clear that the lasting impact of the storm is greater than the capacity, expertise and resources of Tonga, Radio New Zealand International reports.

He says while the Pacific nation has received aid through donor partners on the ground, it has made an official call on Tuesday for help so agencies including the United Nations can help.

Mr Aho says it needs international expertise in food, water, sanitation and shelter.

The New Zealand Government has so far committed $500,000 in cash and frontline assistance to the aid effort.

The United Nations says it is pleased to be officially asked by Tonga to offer relief. Resident coordinator Osnat Lubrani says the government, military and bilateral partner countries have taken important action but there are gaps in health, sanitation and food security.

Ms Lubrani says in the past week, there was a lack of understanding by some key ministries about what humanitarian help could achieve.