Aid finally reaches devastated Tonga, water supply ship awaited

[January 20, 2022]  By Praveen Menon and Kirsty Needham

(Reuters) - The first emergency supply aircraft reached Tonga on Thursday, five days after a devastating volcanic eruption and tsunami, as dispersed communities awaited the arrival of a ship with equipment to scale up supplies of drinking water.

A Royal New Zealand Air Force C-130 Hercules landed at the South Pacific island nation's Fua'amotu International Airport, a defence spokesperson said, after a blanket of volcanic ash was cleared off the runway.

The ash has spoiled much of the archipelago's drinking water.

An Australian Globemaster C-17A military transporter also landed, with a second Australian aircraft due to make the flight later in the evening.

Australian Defence Minister Peter Dutton said the Globemaster was loaded with supplies including desalination equipment, shelter, kitchens and a sweeper to help remove ash from the airport.

"The C-17A flight today was made possible thanks to the tireless efforts of Tongan authorities who have worked to clear a thick layer of volcanic ash from the runway," Dutton said in a statement.

The New Zealand aircraft was carrying humanitarian aid and disaster relief supplies, including kits for temporary shelters, generators, hygiene and family kits, and communications equipment, Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta said.

The delivery of the supplies brought in by both aircraft was contactless to ensure Tonga remains free of the coronavirus.
 

The Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai on Saturday, triggering tsunamis that killed at least three people and destroyed villages, resorts and many buildings and knocked out communications for the nation of about 105,000 people.

Rachael Moore, Australia's high commissioner to Tonga, said the loss of property had been "catastrophic", and that drinking water was "an extremely high priority".

The first of two New Zealand navy ships also arrived on Thursday, its High Commission said.

The second ship, carrying 250,000 litres of water and desalination equipment that will be able to produce 70,000 litres a day, was en route. The Commission said it would check shipping channels and wharf approaches at Tonga's port in preparation for its arrival on Friday.

"Along the western beaches there is a moonscape where once beautiful resorts and many, many homes stood," Moore told Australian radio.

In a radio address, Tonga's King Tupou VI urged courage and hard work for the rebuilding process.

HMAS Adelaide embarks Australian Army CH-47 Chinook Heavy-Lift Helicopters before departing the port of Brisbane for Tonga to assist in relief efforts, January 19, 2022. Australian Department of Defence/Handout via REUTERS

Telephone links between Tonga and the outside world were reconnected late on Wednesday, though restoring full internet services was likely to take a month or more, according to the owner of the archipelago's sole subsea communications cable.

Speaking to Reuters from the capital, Nuku'alofa, journalist Marian Kupu said Tongans were cleaning up all the dust from the volcanic eruption but feared they may run out of drinking water.

"Each home has their own tanks of water supply but most of them are filled with dust so it's not safe," Kupu said.

'WEAR MASKS'

An Australian ship carrying aid is due to set sail on Friday.

Tongans abroad were frantically calling families back home to ensure they are safe.

"It was very relieving to hear from them," said Fatafehi Fakafanua, the speaker of Tonga's legislative assembly, who was in New Zealand when the disaster struck, after making contact with his family.

"The government has advised them to drink bottled water, to cover up when they are outside and also wear masks because of the ash."

The United Nations said about 84,000 people – more than 80% of the population - has been badly affected by the disaster with safe water being "the biggest life‑saving issue".

The volcano erupted about 40 miles (65 km) from the Tongan capital with a blast heard 2,300 km away in New Zealand.

Waves reaching up to 15 metres (49 feet) hit the outer Ha'apai island group, destroying all the houses on the island of Mango, as well as the west coast of Tonga's main island, Tongatapu, where 56 houses were destroyed or seriously damaged.

Accounts of miraculous escapes are emerging including that of a 57-year-old being hailed as a "real life Aquaman" after recounting how he had to swim for about 27 hours after being swept away by the tsunami.

(Reporting by Praveen Menon, Kirsty Needham and Michelle Nichols; Writing by Robert Birsel and John Stonestreet; Editing by Michael Perry, Richard Pullin and Janet Lawrence)

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