Recovery efforts

Acting Prime Minister of Tonga Poasi Tei accepted the humanitarian support of 504 solar lighting and phone charging kits, presented by Sunergise and Clay Energy representative Nikolasi Fonua in Nuku’alofa.

With 85 percent of the country’s population of 105,000 people affected by the 2022 Hunga Tonga–Hunga Ha'apai eruption and tsunami, Tonga faces a long road to recovery. The twin natural disasters resulted from what was probably the largest volcanic eruption in the 21st century with tsunami waves up to 15 m (49 ft) high.

Hu’akavameiliku accepted a total of FJD$38,000 from the Forum Secretary General Henry Puna in a special zoom call from Suva, Fiji, as part of the “Blue Pacific Tonga Appeal”.

The funds were raised by the Secretariat through salary deductions, direct deposits, walkathon and bikeathons, involving the staff of the Secretariat staff, staff of the Pacific Aviation Safety Office and the Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency.

Defence has confirmed members of Operation Tonga Assist discovered asbestos material while clearing debris and destroyed local infrastructure on Atata Island after the January disaster.

The revelation comes as HMAS Adelaide begins returning home from a troubled six-week deployment that saw the Navy's largest warship hit by a COVID-19 outbreak and crippling power failures on board.

HMAS Canberra was guided by Guardian Class Patrol Boat VOEA Ngahau Siliva which was gifted by Australia to His Majesty’s Armed Forces’ under the Pacific Maritime Security Program.  HMAS Adelaide and Supply were in company.

The Australian High Commissioner, Rachael Moore said it was a significant day today for the two countries, with Australia’s two largest ships, HMAS Adelaide and HMAS Canberra, and one of two new Auxiliary Oiler Replenishment ships HMAS Supply in Tongan waters under Operation Tonga Assist 2022.

The eruption that happened on the afternoon of 15 January 2022 echoed sonic blasts across the Pacific region and sent volcanic ash cloud and tsunamic waves across neighboring countries. The event caused devastating impacts on Tonga with economic damage worth US$90.4 million, according to the recent assessment report by World Bank and the Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery.