$10.5m for Tonga's Cyclone Gita recovery

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop has announced $10.5 million of further assistance to help rebuild cyclone-hit Tonga.

The Australia government is pouring in $10.5 million to help Tonga's cyclone reconstruction efforts.

The category four cyclone tore across the Pacific island nation in mid-February flattening the parliament, damaging 4000 homes and leaving 60,000 people without electricity.

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop and Minister for the Pacific Concetta Fierravanti-Wells are visiting Tonga on Friday for talks with Prime Minister Akilisi Pohiva and members of his cabinet.

The additional assistance will help restore infrastructure such as schools and water supplies as well as support farmers who lost crops.

The Australian Defence Force has delivered 135 tonnes of relief items to Tonga including emergency shelters, hygiene and dignity kits, and water purification tablets.

Earlier this week, Ms Bishop visited Port Moresby and announced Australia is chipping in an extra $3.4 million to help Papua New Guinean earthquake victims rebuild their lives.

More than 125 people were killed and the United Nations estimates 500,000 people have been affected by the 7.5-magnitude quake in the highlands region in late February.


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Source: AAP


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