Inia Seruiratu showed his appreciation to the assessment team to the Lau group when he personally met with them onboard the MV Veivueti.

The Minister for Rural and Maritime Development and National Disaster Management spoke to the team when they arrived at the Government Shipping Services (GSS) wharf early yesterday morning.

Assessment team

The team had travelled to Vanuabalavu, Lakeba and Moala Islands for six days.

They were made up of people from different ministries to assess the damages caused by the Hunga Tonga–Hunga Ha’apa volcano’s eruption and resulting tidal waves.

“Thank you for all you have done and we shall continue this good work,” Mr Seruiratu said.

Minister for Health and Medical Services Dr Ifereimi Waqainabete also thanked the civil servants for leaving their families to tend to the needs of the people in the Lau Group.

“I am very pleased with the civil servants that we went with together, the media team and the RFMF personnel. What I have learned is that we have an institutional knowledge where everyone works as a team,” Dr Waqainabete said.

“We were able to assess the three islands and we only missed one or two villages in Moala since we could not reach them, but food rations were distributed to all the islands.

“It was a great trip, and the assessment team were able to assess the three islands and a report will be submitted to the Commissioner Eastern.

“After each day, the team comes together and writes their report or their findings.”

The second team that went to assess Ono-i-Lau, Vatoa and Moce arrived yesterday afternoon.

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