Overview:
On 12 February 2018 Tropical Cyclone Gita, with wind speeds above 200 kilometres per hour, landfall on ‘Eua and Tongaptapu in the Kingdom of Tonga. TC Gita is the strongest recorded cyclone to have made landfall, causing significant damage to the housing sector:
• 819 houses destroyed.
• 3,889 houses damaged.
The TC Gita response was led during the emergency phase by National Emergency Management Office (NEMO). During this phase, relief agencies distributed c. 6,500 tarpaulins and 1,288 tool kits. This means that most households have received tarpaulins and tools are accessible to one in every four families with damaged houses. The emergency shelter phase has been quick and comprehensive and provides a strong basis for early recovery. The Ministry of Infrastructure, taking over from NEMO, is now responsible for recovery coordination.