User:Jason Rees/Nina-Kina

Background
Severe Tropical Cyclone Joni

During December 1992, an active phase of the Madden–Julian oscillation combined with a low-level equatorial surge and an upper-level ridge of high pressure, to provide favourable conditions for the development of several circulations within the monsoon trough.

Tuvalu
After Severe Tropical Cyclone Joni had affected Tuvalu during the previous month, Nina and Kina indirectly impacted the island nation during the opening days of January 1993. The systems contributed to the strength of the westerly winds that were already present over the islands, with winds of up to 130 km/h reported throughout the islands. As these winds combined with a heavy westerly swell and high seas, where they caused flooding of up to 2 ft over the islands of Nanumea, Nanumaga, Niutao, Nui and Vaitupu. As a result, damage was reported to crops and several buildings in the island nation, including thirty houses. The two cyclones caused a severe amount of erosion in the island nation, with the shoreline on Vaitupu, receding by about 5 - 6 m. The Vaitupu Fisheries Harbour, that had only just been built during 1992, was seriously damaged by waves attributed to the two cyclones.

On the island of Nanumea, a poorly designed sea wall trapped the storm surge on the island, which caused salt water contamination of the island vegetation and killed several trees. An appeal for international assistance was subsequently made by the Government of Tuvalu, as supplies of food and other essentials like petrol and kerosene on the worst affected islands were running low. International assistance was subsequently provided, by the United Nations Department of Humanitarian Affairs, who provided an emergency grant of. The European Commission also provided emergency aid to Tuvalu which enabled the Red Cross, to provide foodstuffs, shelter, medical supplies and utensils to people whose homes were destroyed.