Global EditionASIA 中文雙語Fran?ais
World
Home / World / Huge Tonga volcanic eruption

Distance, volcanic ash delay Tonga aid: UN

Updated: 2022-01-20 08:21
Share
Share - WeChat
Supplies intended as relief material are prepared to be sent to Tonga by the Australian Red Cross, in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, January 19, 2022. [Photo/Agencies]

UNITED NATIONS - Needs assessment expands for Tonga volcano disaster relief and aid efforts scale up, but delivery is delayed by distance and ash-laden runways, UN humanitarians said on Wednesday.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, citing Tongan authorities, said that water, food and restoration of communications top the list of needs. However, it will be days before naval ships from Australia and New Zealand can arrive and dock on the main island of Tongatapu.

Saturday's eruption affects 84,000 people, or 80 percent of the population, OCHA said. The casualty count remains at three dead and an unknown number of people injured.

While 90 percent of electricity on Tongatapu is back up, volcanic ash blocks runways at the international airport at Nuku'alofa, the capital city. They are expected to be cleared by Thursday local time, said OCHA.

Domestic phone service operates only within Tongatapu and 'Eua islands.

When foreign relief can be delivered it is expected to be on a hands-off basis because of the island kingdom's strict anti-COVID protocols. It is one of the few COVID-free countries in the world.

"The United Nations is concerned about the islands of Mango, Fonoifua, and Nomuka which have been severely impacted, though sparsely populated," the office said. "All houses are destroyed on Mango and only two houses remain on Fonoifua, with extensive damage reported on Nomuka. Evacuation of people from Mango and Fonoifua to Nomuka is under way."

Surveillance flight data showed up to 100 houses were severely damaged on the main island and about 50 on 'Eua, OCHA said. Tongan authorities are conducting search-and-rescue operations and have sent two vessels carrying health teams and water, food and tents to the Ha'apai island group, where Mango, Fonoifua and Nomuka are located.

The humanitarian office said the Tongan Red Cross Society and other local partners are distributing emergency water, food rations, shelter and kitchen supplies. The UN Children's Fund is shipping water and other supplies with Australia's HMAS Adelaide, but the ship won't leave for Tonga until Friday.

Japan announced an emergency grant of more than 1 million U.S. dollars along with a pledge to send relief supplies and equipment, OCHA said. The Red Cross Society of China will provide 100,000 dollars in cash and humanitarian assistance.

On one of Tonga's nearest neighbors in the southwestern Pacific, Fiji, 50 engineers from the military forces are on standby to assist in the relief effort should there be a request by the Tongan government, the office said.

Most Viewed in 24 Hours
Top
BACK TO THE TOP
English
Copyright 1995 - . All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form. Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site.
License for publishing multimedia online 0108263

Registration Number: 130349
FOLLOW US
主站蜘蛛池模板: 老师~你的技术真好好大| 《调教办公室》在线观看| 永久在线毛片免费观看| 国产一区二区三区不卡在线观看| 7777精品久久久大香线蕉| 成+人+黄+色+免费观看| 亚州无吗黄瓜视频有直播的不| 狠狠色丁香久久综合五月| 国产丰满岳乱妇在线观看| 奇米四色77777| 天堂а√在线地址| 中文无码字幕中文有码字幕| 樱桃黄高清完整版在线观看| 国产色a在线观看| 丰满的己婚女人| 欧美xxxx做受欧美| 你懂的手机在线视频| 色视频综合无码一区二区三区| 国产精品免费_区二区三区观看| 久久婷婷五月综合97色| 永久在线毛片免费观看| 厨房娇妻被朋友跨下挺进在线观看| 欧美日韩第一区| 国自产拍91大神精品| 三级在线看中文字幕完整版 | 男女做爽爽视频免费观看| 国产不卡在线视频| 久久久精品久久久久三级| 国产美女牲交视频| www.youjizz.com在线| 拍拍拍无档又黄又爽视频| 久久精品日韩Av无码| 欧美性色黄大片www喷水| 人人妻人人澡人人爽欧美一区九九| 美女被爆羞羞视频网站视频| 国产婷婷色综合av蜜臀av | 李老汉的性生生活2| 永久免费AV无码网站在线观看| 国产SUV精品一区二区88L| fulidown国产精品合集| 撕开老师的丝袜白丝扒开粉嫩的小|