Anglican Missions Tonga Emergency Appeal
On 15 January the underwater Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai volcano erupted which led to significant ash falls across Tonga and triggered tsunami waves. The eruption generated an ash plume 19.2 km high. While electricity and mobile phone networks have been re-established on the main island of Tongatapu, communications with the outer islands are intermittent.
The massive undersea volcano eruption in Tonga on 15 January 2022. Photo: Tonga Meteorological Services
Sisi Fountain, our Diocesan Property Manager, has family in Tonga who are dealing with the aftermath. “I haven’t been able to talk to anyone directly, but have heard through other family members that my family are all fine. They are now starting to clear all the ash from streets and properties,” says Sisi.
“The palace was totally packed full, being at the highest point of the island. The previous King built the palace with this sort of thing in mind and as soon as the emergency was announced, the gates were thrown open for anyone to come and stay until it was safe to go home. It’s also been totally devastating for some of the communities; three whole islands have been completely wiped out with nothing left standing except the odd tree." The government now has the task of finding land to re-house those islanders left homeless.
The Tongan Navy has reported major damage in the Ha’apai group where waves were estimated to be 5-10 metres in height, reaching 500 metres inland. Pending assessments, damage in the northern more isolated islands could be significant and would likely include contaminated water and food supplies as a result of ashfall as well as damage to buildings and crops caused by inundation.
Anglican Missions is working closely with the Anglican Diocese of Polynesia and has launched an Appeal. Funds will be used to replenish prepositioned relief supplies located at four Anglican churches in Nuku’alofa. Other activities will depend on an assessment of needs which should be available over the next few days.
We are part of a network of New Zealand agencies responding to this event and are linked in with the official New Zealand government response. We are also working closely with CWS, the Presbyterian Church, the Methodist Church, the Baptist Church and the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) to ensure any support is joined-up and not duplicating effort. Tearfund NZ has offered us $10k already and we will look to a potential partnership – as we did with the response to Tropical Cyclone Yasa last year. We are working with Anglican Overseas Aid and the Anglican Board of Missions (both Australia) as well as Episcopal Relief and Development (USA) and the Anglican Alliance to encourage a broad Anglican response to this event.
Donations can be made via the Anglican Missions website. We will provide regular updates on our website as well as on Facebook and Instagram.
Given we do not yet know what the needs are in Tonga, we encourage people to donate money rather than goods. Please see the link here on the importance of not sending goods straight after a disaster: https://donateresponsibly.org/pasifika
The point of contact for Anglican Missions is Steph Fry, Programmes Manager, steph@angmissions.org.nz, +64 27 786 2269
Containers placed at car park, St Paul's Nuku'alofa
Contents of one container, St Paul's Nuku'alofa
