India announces $200,000 relief assistance to tsunami-hit Tonga

India Announces $200,000 Relief Assistance to Tsunami-hit Tonga

The Ministry of External Affairs said on Tuesday that India has provided emergency relief assistance to the amount of US$ 200,000 for relief, rehabilitation, and reconstruction operations in tsunami-affected Tonga.

The Ministry of External Affairs said on Tuesday that India has provided emergency relief assistance to the amount of US$ 200,000 for relief, rehabilitation, and reconstruction operations in tsunami-affected Tonga.

On January 15, 2022, a tsunami struck the Kingdom of Tonga, affecting large swaths of the population and wreaking havoc on the country’s infrastructure.

According to a statement from the Ministry of External Affairs, “India expresses heartfelt condolences to the government and people of the Kingdom of Tonga for the loss and destruction caused by this unparalleled calamity.”

“As a close friend and partner under the Forum for India-Pacific Islands Cooperation (FIPIC), and as a gesture of solidarity with the friendly people of Tonga, the Government of India extends an immediate relief assistance of US$ 200,000 to support relief, rehabilitation, and reconstruction efforts in the Kingdom of Tonga.”

During times of crisis and devastation caused by natural disasters, such as Cyclone Gita in 2018, India has consistently stood with Tonga.

Disaster Risk Reduction and Management is a key component of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI), which was unveiled in November 2019.