10th December, 2020 The Met Office is completing a series of public consultations with the Communities of Niuatoputapu this week. The consultations are part of the Multi-hazard Early Warning System (MHEW) Component of the Pacific Resilience Project (PREP) for the establishment of a MHEWS Policy for Tonga. According to the Director of Meteorology, Mr. Ofa Fa’anunu “Cabinet on 18 September 2020 gave approval for a MHEWS Policy to be formulated for Tonga to better guide works associated with Early Warning and Preparedness to natural Disasters. So far we have conducted consultations in parts of Tongatapu, Eua, about 50% of Ha’apai and now Niuatoputapu. Because everyone is affected by extreme events here in Tonga its crucial we capture everyone’s views (inclusiveness) irrespective of geographical location, livelihoods, gender and age. For Tonga to have an effective early warning system everybody must be on board and no one left behind. We hope to complete consultations in January 2021 and submit the Draft Policy to Cabinet for Government Endorsement in February 2021 for consideration”.
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