"People in Tonga have been severely affected by the volcanic eruption and ensuing tsunami”, said the Commissioner for Crisis Management, Janez Lenarčič. “The European Union has provided emergency funding to allow first responders on the ground to deliver vital assistance to the worst-hit parts of the impacted islands. We stand in close contact with the Tongan authorities and further European support has been offered. Our thoughts go to all those affected."

The EU funding supports the Tonga Red Cross Society (TRCS) in providing the most vulnerable communities with emergency shelter and essential household items, health and water, sanitation and hygiene support, as well as psychological first aid and other critical assistance. To date, there has been only one confirmed case of COVID-19 in Tonga and all necessary measures will be in place to minimise the transmission of the virus during the operation.

The funding is part of the EU’s overall contribution to the Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF) of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).

The eight-minute eruption of the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai volcano sent plumes of ash, steam and gas up to 20 km into the atmosphere, and triggered a tsunami that spread across the Pacific in a matter of hours. Thousands of people in Tonga are thought to be in need of assistance, with buildings destroyed, communications disrupted and entire settlements covered in a thick blanket of fallen ash. Most homes are located along the coastline and were likely inundated by the strong waves triggered by the eruption. There is likely significant damage to settlements, buildings, vital infrastructure and crops, livestock and fisheries. Falling ash and saltwater from the tsunami have also polluted drinking water sources for tens of thousands of people across the country.

Background

The European Union together with its Member States is the world's leading donor of humanitarian aid. Relief assistance is an expression of European solidarity towards people in need around the world. It aims to save lives, prevent and alleviate human suffering, and safeguard the integrity and human dignity of populations affected by natural disasters and human-made crises.

Through its European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO), the European Union helps millions of victims of conflicts and disasters every year.

The European Commission has signed a €3 million humanitarian contribution agreement with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) to support the Federation's Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF). Funds from the DREF are mainly allocated to “small-scale” disasters – those that do not give rise to a formal international appeal.

The Disaster Relief Emergency Fund was established in 1985 and is supported by contributions from donors. Each time a National Red Cross or Red Crescent Society needs immediate financial support to respond to a disaster, it can request financial support from the Fund. For small-scale disasters, the IFRC allocates grants from the Fund, which can then be replenished by the donors. The contribution agreement between the IFRC and DG ECHO enables the latter to replenish the Fund for agreed operations (that fit in with its humanitarian mandate) up to a total of €3 million.

For further information, please contact:

Peter Biro, Regional Information Officer for Asia and the Pacific, European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO): peter.biro@echofield.eu