India announces $200,000 as relief fund to help Tsunami hit Tonga

            The Government of India has provided emergency humanitarian assistance in the amount of USD 200,000 to the Kingdom of Tonga in the aftermath of the Tsunami, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Tuesday.

“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 USD 200,000 to support relief, rehabilitation, and reconstruction efforts in the Kingdom of Tonga”, according to a MEA statement.

Furthermore, India expresses its heartfelt condolences to the Government and people of the Kingdom of Tonga for the devastation and devastation inflicted by this unparalleled calamity.

Notably, on January 15, 2022, a tsunami struck the Kingdom of Tonga, affecting a huge portion of the country’s population and causing considerable infrastructure damage.

“India has always supported Tonga in times of crisis and destruction caused by natural catastrophes, such as Cyclone Gita in 2018. Disaster Risk Reduction and Management is a key component of India’s Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI), which Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled in November 2019”, MEA went on to say in its statement.