United Nations, Jan 19: Relief efforts following the Tonga volcano eruption face the challenge of severed communications, falling ash closing the major airport and strict anti-Covid measures, UN officials said.
They said the casualty toll remained at three dead and an unknown number of people injured, Xinhua news agency reported.
“Need assessments by the Tongan authorities are ongoing and should provide a better estimate of what is required of the international community,” said Stephane Dujarric, the chief spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. “We are on standby with teams and emergency supplies, and stocks in Tonga are being readied for distribution once humanitarian needs are identified.”
“Our staff there are working to assist coordination and response efforts in-country,” he told a regular press briefing. There are 23 UN workers in Tonga — 22 local hires and one international staffer.
In a video conference, Jonathan Veitch, the UN acting resident and humanitarian coordinator for Fiji, the Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu, spelled out challenges following Saturday’s eruption.