The New Zealand Defence Force (NZFD) is leading the renovation of ‘Ahau and Ha’atafu Community Halls as part of HTHH recovery efforts alongside His Majesty’s Armed Forces and the National Emergency Management Office (NEMO).
The renovation is part of New Zealand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s Tropical Twilight Exercise, a humanitarian and disaster relief operations funding project.
Director of the National Emergency Management Office (NEMO) Mr Mafua Maka said that renovating the evacuation centers is crucial for the community especially at this exercise is ensuring that the evacuation centres are accessible to people with disabilities.
“The repair include wheelchair ramps for disabled and elderly people. The team will also refurbish the kitchens and latrines to accommodate people who will be using the centres in times of disasters. The team is also installing new roofing, water pipes, and electrical lines inside the halls, as well as shutters to cover the windows.”
Part of the exercise is the maintenance of NEMO’s immediate response equipment that were used in the HTHH response. The equipment includes desalination units, generators and chainsaws.
The Town Officer of ‘Ahau, Mr Sione Sila Tolu Tautuiaki, said that community members are delighted with this assistance.
“The need for the retrofitment of the evacuation centre has been one of the priority needs of the community for years. The hall acted as a safe haven for displaced households from HTHH despite the fact that it was not livable; however, it is the only evacuation centre in the community. This exercise finally recognizes the community’s dream for their hall to be retrofitted in order to be livable in times of disasters.”
This activity is expected to be completed by the end of this month.
Exercise Tropic Twilight was last held in Tonga in 2016.
Source: Government Press