Aftermath Cyclone Waka

enlarged track of cyclone waka between december 29 , january 1 depicting storm s path in relation several south pacific islands.

within day of cyclone waka s passage in tonga, government of new zealand deployed aircraft survey scale of damage , reestablish contact tongan islands. aircraft sent in accordance franz agreement, enacted in 1992, states assests 1 country used in relief operations. on january 2, head of tonga s disaster office announced need international assistance recover storm. due substantial damage agriculture, food shortages expected impact region on following months. january 7, red cross began sending supplies tonga. hundreds of tents , tarpaulins brought in australian ac-130 recovery process. on january 12, new zealand lockheed c-130 hercules carrying us$700,000 worth of supplies flew area deliver aid. additional us$700,000 given in relief funds repair damage wrought storm. of this, us$500,000 used repair schools damaged or destroyed , remaining us$200,000 used emergency lighting, cooking , food supply recovery.

further funds came united states agency international development, offered us$25,000 mid-january. french polynesian assembly in tahiti provided us$770,000 worth of relief supplies , aid. main industry of tonga, tourism, devastated storm no tourists allowed travel region @ least 2 weeks after waka s passage. government of tonga requested total of us$39.2 million in international aid, of dedicated rehabilitation of infrastructure. medical supplies , personnel later deployed world health organization. in march, relief fund based on donations set united methodist committee on relief provide us$210,000 30 families impacted storm. 180 people given assistance in rebuilding homes church world service later month. food shortages became severe in april, emergency supplies sent outlying niuas islands of tonga. in may, us$5.85 million approved emergency funds world bank assist in infrastructural rehabilitation.

vava u suffered tremendous decrease in agricultural exports due waka, dropping 86.5% previous year. despite substantial agricultural losses, sector ended expanding 2% end of 2002 , overall economy grew 2.9%. owing severity of damage wrought cyclone, world meteorological organization retired name waka following using.