Tonga Roundup: Free medical care, earthquake, flash floods

Free medical care on Tonga Day

A Tongan medical team offered free check-ups during Tonga Day celebrations at Api Tonga Church in Suva, attended by hundreds of Tongans. The three-day event showcased Tongan culture and delicacies, with local students selling handicrafts and food. WOWS Kids Fiji Founder Sina Kami expressed gratitude for the community's unity in celebrating their heritage. The celebrations will conclude with a combined service led by Archbishop Sione Uluilakeba at the Anglican Church, Fiji Village reports.

Tonga household survey to focus on the lives of women and children

Tonga is set to conduct its Tonga MICS 2024, becoming the first Pacific Island country to carry out a household survey focused on the lives of women and children. This survey, expected to conclude in December 2024, will assess various indicators such as health, education, and child protection, providing crucial data for policymakers and stakeholders in driving sustainable development. Developed in collaboration with UNICEF, the MICS aims to identify gaps in child welfare across rural/urban, gender, and age disparities. According to MTO, the survey follows a comprehensive training program for enumerators and is supported by the Government of Tonga, the Australian DFAT, and UNICEF, with technical assistance from UNICEF and UNFPA. Tonga joins 15 other countries globally in this round of the MICS.

5.3-magnitude earthquake hits near Tonga

A 5.3-magnitude earthquake struck 129 kilometres southeast of Neiafu, Tonga, at a depth of 10 kilometres on Friday at 2:01 pm UTC. There are no reports of damages or casualties, and no tsunami warning was issued, reports Baha.

Man convicted for receiving a stolen rental car from Australia

A man in Tonga, Siosio Malohi Vea, was found guilty of receiving a stolen rental car from Australia, which was allegedly stolen by his ex-wife, Kasanita Vea. The Supreme Court in Nuku’alofa determined that he concealed the car's true origin and was aware it was stolen, constituting money laundering. As reported by Kaniva Tonga, the car was rented to Kasanita in New South Wales and was shipped to Tonga without authorization. Vea will be sentenced next month, with the court confirming the indictment was proven beyond a reasonable doubt.

Flash floods

Heavy rainfall in Tonga has caused flash flooding on several islands, highlighting the importance of disaster preparedness ahead of cyclone season. Meanwhile, recovery efforts are ongoing for nearly 8,000 displaced people on Papua New Guinea's Goodenough Island. A farmer in Vanuatu shares concerns about the long-term impacts of climate change on his livelihood, as reported by Pacific.