$3.5M allocated for initial TC Harold response - Usamate

Minister for Infrastructure Jone Usamate says around $3.5 million is allocated for the initial TC Harold response which is being funded by the Prime Minister’s Disaster Rehabilitation and Relief Fund.

He says the initial scale of the response will depend on the assessment being carried out by officials on the ground.

Usamate says this first phase will look into damaged infrastructure, distribution of food rations and health services.

He says the distribution of food rations have begun in all divisions.

The National Disaster Management Office says the 14-day ration packs contain rice, flour, mixed-dhal, tinned fish and oil. Meanwhile Minister for Defence, Inia Seruiratu says they will be providing temporary water tanks to islands in Southern Lau as major damages were done to water infrastructure.