ADRA Samoa is helping those impacted by Tropical Cyclone Gita, which struck the island nation on Friday and is now heading towards Tonga.
Just after midnight on Sabbath morning, ADRA opened an evacuation centre at the Seventh-day Adventist Church headquarters in Apia and provided shelter for more than 200 people who were forced to flee their homes.
The country is facing widespread flooding, power blackouts, lack of fresh water and limited road access.
“ADRA is working with the Red Cross to provide meals and accommodation as well as working with the government to undertake rapid damage assessments of the two islands of Savai’i and Upolu,” an ADRA spokesperson said.
“Please keep the people of Samoa and the ADRA team in your prayers over the next few days as they respond and begin the recovery.”
A state of emergency has been declared in Tonga as it prepares for the arrival of Gita, which was upgraded to a category three cyclone on Saturday.
Residents are being urged to move away from low-lying locations and prepare their properties, with flooding, strong winds and storm surges expected. The cyclone is due to arrive later this evening or early tomorrow morning.
