DISASTER RECOVERY FRAMEWORK FOR TROPICAL CYCLONE GITA

Tropical Cyclone (TC) Gita passed over the Tongatapu and ‘Eua island groups around 11 p.m. on Monday February 12, 2018. Following TC Gita’s passage from Tonga, there were reports of significant damage on both Tongatapu and ‘Eua.

The total economic value of the effects caused by Tropical Cyclone Gita was estimated to be approximately T$356 million (US$164 million). This is equivalent to 36 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP) in Tonga1 and gives an indication of the scale of impact.2 Of these effects, T$208 million (US$96 million) is attributable to damage and T$147 (US$67.7 million) is attributable to losses.

TC Gita produced different effects across the different economic and social sectors. The sector that sustained the highest level of damage was the housing sector, which accounts for 61 percent of the total damage cost, followed by the tourism sector which accounts for 13 percent of the damage cost. The largest level of economic losses occurred in the agriculture sector, which accounts for an estimated 82 percent of the total losses

This Disaster Recovery Framework (DRF) will help guide and coordinate decisions on rebuilding over the next three years (till 2021). It will inform more detailed recovery programs, plans, and projects that will be developed and implemented by the responsible government ministries in consultation with key stakeholders and the wider community.