The miracle of Tonga, with a single case of covid-19, in danger due to the volcano

The island nation of Tonga has managed to avoid the pandemic with a single case of covid-19, but the shipment of humanitarian aid after last weekend’s gigantic eruption and devastating tsunami endangers the miracle of the Polynesian kingdom.

LOOK: First images of devastation: Tonga, covered in ash and with devastated coasts after eruption and tsunami

“They want to keep covid-19 out of their country. It is a humanitarian mission with different fronts”, explained this Wednesday the New Zealand Foreign Minister, Nanaia Mahuta, who pointed out that she is in dialogue” with the Tongan authorities on security protocols against the pandemic in the face of the arrival of emergency supplies.

After days of uncertainty, the Government of Tonga described on Tuesday as “an unprecedented disaster” the tsunami and the volcanic eruption suffered on Saturday while the islands remain practically incommunicado.

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The eruption of Hunga Tonga Hunga Ha’apai, one of the largest in 30 years, caused a tsunami with waves up to 15 meters high that hit several islands in this South Pacific archipelago of 169 islands and 105,000 inhabitants.

Tonga’s high commissioner in Canberra, Curtis Tu’ihalangingie, said Tuesday on the Australian public channel ABC that protocols will have to be strictly followed to avoid a “tsunami of covid-19”.

Tonga shielded its borders to prevent the entry of the coronavirus and throughout the pandemic it has only detected one case while it has managed to vaccinate 60% of its population with the full schedule.

The only case of covid was recorded at the end of October 2021 and it was a vaccinated person who was in quarantine after arriving in Tonga from New Zealand, on a repatriation flight.

“Opening up to tourism and humanitarian workers carries enormous risks for (nations in) the Pacific, which has so far been largely shielded from the impact,” Kate Schuetze, Asia-Pacific researcher for Amnesty International, said today on Twitter.

Two New Zealand Navy ships left on Tuesday for Tonga, where they will arrive “at the earliest on Friday,” Defense Minister Peeni Henare said today, assuring that the ships have to navigate with “caution.”

A “cleaning operation” of the runway at the airport on the country’s main island is also underway so that “by the end of the week” military planes loaded with humanitarian aid can land safely.

Both ministers stressed the priority of distribution of drinking water, due to the possible contamination of aquifers after the ash rain or through the invasion of salt water, in addition to medical supplies and power generators.

At least three people have lost their lives after this “unprecedented disaster” that hit Tonga on Saturday, made up of 169 islands and with 105,000 inhabitants, when the violent eruption of an underwater volcano caused a tsunami with waves of 15 meters.

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Deshawn