Michelle Nichols and Praveen Meon

(Reuters) – Tonga is being prepared by the United Nations for relief operations that are not directly connected to the nation. This is in an effort to reduce the risk of a COVID-19 crisis in the Pacific Island nation.

The government stated in the first statement following Saturday’s catastrophic eruption that all homes were destroyed on one of Tonga’s smaller outer islands. Three people are confirmed to have died.

Communications were severely hampered due to the severed of an underwater cable. Information on the extent of the destruction has been mainly gathered from reconnaissance aircraft.

Jonathan Veitch (Fijian UN coordinator) stated in a press briefing that most United Nations operations will be conducted remotely. The agency may not even send personnel to Fiji.

“We are confident that we will be capable of sending supplies on flights.” Veitch explained that they aren’t certain we can send personnel on flights. This is because Tonga doesn’t have a COVID policy.

Tonga is COVID-19-free, and any outbreak would be catastrophic. Veitch explained that the tiny, island country has 90% coverage for both adults and younger persons over 12, as well.

“They have been cautious in opening their borders as many Pacific islands do, due to the history of Pacific disease outbreaks that has decimated societies.”

Veitch explained that 23 U.N. personnel are on the ground, along with other international NGOs who can assist in relief efforts.

The World Health Organization will have a conversation with the government, he said. However, he stressed that they would not be doing anything to compromise the safety protocols or the safety and health of the population as it relates to COVID.

CLEAN UP UNDERWAY

Tongan authorities have begun to evacuate residents who are stranded in outlying regions. The prime minister’s statement on Tuesday night stated that water supply was “seriously disrupted” by volcanic ash.

Although ships carrying relief and supplies equipment including water have already left ports in Australia and New Zealand, it will still take five days for them to arrive on Tonga’s shores.

It is the top priority of the government to remove ash from the airport runway. The archipelago’s main Fua’amotu International Airport was not damaged but the ash was having to be manually removed.

Veitch explained that while we thought it would be functional yesterday, it isn’t. “More ash has been falling than it cleared,” Veitch added.

Tsunami waves reaching up to 15 metres hit the Ha’apia island group, where Mango is located, and the west coast of Tonga’s main island, Tongatapu, the prime minister’s office said. Residents were evacuated to safety after 56 houses on the Coast were damaged or destroyed.

Atata, Mango, and the Hunga Tonga Ha’apai volcano are approximately 50 to 70km from Atata. The explosion sent tsunami waves throughout the Pacific Ocean. It was 2,300 km (2,430 miles) distant in New Zealand.

Tonga has been promised financial aid by Australia and New Zealand.

U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) approved immediate funding of $100,000 to help people affected by the tsunami and volcanic eruptions.