When Tonga was hit by Cyclone Gita in February 2018, it damaged 1100 houses, leaving 120 destroyed. The 230 kilometre-per-hour winds also destroyed part of the country’s historic parliament building. The storm caused $210m-worth of damage, equivalent to almost one-third of Tonga’s gross domestic product (GDP).
In the following weeks, there was a global response to help rebuild the country. Donations poured in from across the international community. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) came forward with $6m to fund early recovery activities. New Zealand pledged NZ$750,000 ($508,000) and its defence forces, if needed. China also stepped forward with $1.3m in emergency financing.
