By Rhiannon Koh, AsAmNews Staff Writer
It was in mid-January when countries around the Pacific Ocean felt the reverberations of the Tongan volcanic eruptions. In addition to back to-back eruptions and tsunami warnings, the live volcano also ruptured the island’s undersea internet cable, blocking its contact with the outside world. As dwindling vestiges of ash and smoke make direct, humanitarian aid possible, there are still a mountain of challenges that still face the people of Tonga.
On Friday, AsAmNews attended a White House briefing with the Office of Public Engagement and White House Initiative on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders. In attendance were experts from both the Department of State and USAID.
Taylor Ruggles, the Director of the Australia, New Zealand, and Pacific Island Affairs at the U.S. Department commented that the natural disaster submerged smaller islands encircling the country. 2 Tongans and one United Kingdom citizen died as a result. Ruggles said that the department has assessed that appropriately 84% of the Tongan population are currently impacted by a lack of access to necessities like clean food and water, heat, and shelter.
“One of the other aspects that impacted our response is the fact that Tonga, like many countries in the Pacific, is COVID-free,” Ruggles acknowledged. “In organizing a response, we and other partners wanted to make sure that we respected Tongans’ no-contact policy to protect them from COVID-19.
Although there is no U.S. embassy directly in the kingdom, there is one in Suva, Fiji. From there, the U.S. has conducted most of its communications right after the eruptions and subsequent tsunamis.
“By issuing a disaster declaration, it freed up an initial $100,000 [for direct aid],” Ruggles continued.
Erin Nicholson, USAID Director of the Office of East Asia Affairs cited USAID’s longstanding historical ties with the 12 Pacific Island Nations and how such relationships have been useful in light of the recent, natural disaster.
In addition to the initial $100,000 provided, USAID emergency funding allotted an additional $2.5 million. Moreover, relief and recovery workers have also managed to clear 10 to 15 centimeters of ash from airport runways, distribute safe, drinking water, and even repaired water tanks to prepare for coming rain.
Video from SSEC/CIMSS, University of Wisconsin–Madison via Wikimedia Commons
As more volunteers an aid workers travel to the island, Tonga has instated a 72-hour quarantine of all incoming cargo and a 21-day quarantine for any incoming persons not pre-approved by relief teams. Apart from direct assistance, rebuilding and repairing the undersea internet cable is high on the list of priorities.
Save the Children, Oxfam, and UNICEF are a few credible ones that at are all collecting donations, with a preference for cash and not commodity donations. The White House briefing also cautioned prospective donors to watch out for any fraudulent schemes pocketing funds for the Tongans.
Nevertheless, activists are calling for more streamlined support. NBC reported that Tongan Americans say long-term action is necessary, not just in cleaning up after the current crisis, but in taking steps to prevent the next one.
“There is no question that such devastating impacts are a result of climate change,” the humanitarian coalition groups wrote.
Those recovering also fear that water and air contamination could expose them to disease later on in life.
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