New Zealand has announced an additional $ 2 million in humanitarian aid to Tonga

On Friday, January 21, the New Zealand government announced an additional $ 2 million in humanitarian aid for Tonga, a South Pacific country affected by an underwater volcanic eruption last weekend.

New Zealand Foreign Minister Nanaya Mahuda and Defense Minister Beanie Henare said in a joint statement that the Royal New Zealand Air Force’s C-130 Hercules aircraft carrying relief supplies had already landed in New Zealand. More flights are scheduled for Tonga on Thursday. .

“This support will allow us to ship the most important items to Tonga in the coming days and weeks, such as clean water, food, as well as engineering equipment and waste disposal equipment,” Mahuda added.

New Zealand had earlier announced $ 1 million in immediate relief.

Honore noted that the Royal New Zealand Navy’s multi-role ship HMNZS Canterbury (MRV) departed from Devonport to Tonga overnight.

“HMNZS Canterbury will have additional arrangements such as tarpaulins, water containers, powdered milk, as well as engineering teams and two NH-90 helicopters to clean up the debris,” the minister said.

See also: Chinese Ambassador Recent volcanic eruption polluted the entire water supply in Tonga

Separately, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinta Ardern and Foreign Minister Mahuta discussed relief efforts with their Tongan counterparts and pledged their full support, a statement said.

On Wednesday, Chinese Ambassador to the island Cao Xiaolin noted that a volcanic eruption under the sea had polluted the entire water supply of the South Pacific nation.

“Tonga’s water supply is polluted and people are struggling to get clean water. Crops have also been destroyed,” Xiaolin told Chinese media.

Last Saturday, January 15, the underwater volcano Hanga-Tonga-Hunga-Habai, located in the main archipelago of Tongadapu, 65 kilometers north of the capital Nuku’aloba, spewed shocking waves of ash, steam and gas.

The eruption affected all communications on the island and later created a tsunami.

On Tuesday, the Tongan government said the country was suffering from an “unprecedented catastrophe”.

Tonga, the third largest archipelago in the South Pacific with a population of just over 105,000, has more than 170 islands, many of which are uninhabited but covered by rainforests.

The volcano affected much of the western part of Tonga’s main island, destroying numerous properties and evacuating thousands of people.

According to the United Nations, the eruption has affected about 60,000 people, and their crops, livestock and fish have been affected as a result of ash fall and salt water intrusion.

* Camilo Hernandez contributed to the writing of this note.

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