Food concerns following Tonga cyclone

Officials in Tonga are now warning of food shortages on some islands, in the wake of Cyclone Rene.

The two island groups of Vava'u and Haa'apai were hit by category four Cyclone Rene last week which caused significant damage to crops.

Tonga's Disaster Management Office is predicting food shortages within a month with 95 per cent of fruit cops damaged.

The deputy director, Maliu Takai, says officials from the Disaster Management Office are still on the outer islands assessing the exact extent of the damage.

He says once they have filed their reports the government will decide what action to take, and whether it needs to ask for further assistance from other countries.

The Royal Governor of Vava'u, Noble Luani, told Pacific Beat the situation is bleak.

"Most of the people here are very pesismistic," he said.

"In the next few weeks or so we are going to really feel the crunch because the cyclone has really ruined most of the crops."

Noble Luani says the loss of the inter-island ferry MV Princess Ashika last year had made it difficult to export produce, and the cyclone damage has only made the stituation now desperate for some locals.

He says Cyclone Rene left many communities without power and there is still no word on when it may be restored.

"That's going to take a while cause there's no oil here, the oil here is very limited, diesel," he said.

"And also manpower - we must increase the number of manpower to help the rehabilitation program quicker."