In total, about 84,000 people, more than 80% of the population of the South Pacific Kingdom, were affected by the disaster.
Apart from the three deaths reported earlier in the week, no further deaths have been confirmed.
In the update released on Thursday, OCHA confirms that the entire economically important agricultural sector, including crops, livestock and fisheries, has suffered substantial damage.
The agency is particularly interested in the effects of ash on crops along with saltwater intrusion and the potential for acid rain.
About 60 to 70 percent of livestock households have seen their livestock dead, grazing land damaged, or contaminated water sources.
The fishery, which operates on the more than 170 islands that make up the archipelago, has also been significantly impacted and the Government has advised against fishing amid ongoing pollution or fish consumption.
Appraise, evaluate, evaluate
Initial Damage Assessments (IDAs) are being conducted on the main island, Tongatapu, as well as on the islands of the Ha’apai group, by Tonga’s National Office of Emergency Management (NEMO) and partners.
OCHA said most parts of the country, including remote and isolated islands, were also visited by the assessment teams.
To date, five communities in Tongatapu have been identified that have suffered significant damage to households in the coastal area. About 31 houses were completely damaged, 72 houses were severely damaged, 46 houses were moderately damaged and 23 houses were slightly damaged.
According to OCHA, There are still serious concerns about safe water access and groundwater quality.
The capital’s water supply is safe to drink but most people currently rely on bottled water. Authorities have advised residents not to drink rainwater until more information is available.
Continuous feedback
National and international partners are working to solve these problems, transporting water, filtration equipment and desalination equipment.
Another major issue coming up, according to OCHA, is risk monitoring for infectious diseases.
There are also reports of fuel shortages, but petrol supplies are arriving as part of regular shipments and with some additional Australian Government support.
As for public health concerns, the national hospital and pharmacy in the capital remains intact and fully operational. OCHA notes that there are reports of damage to several medical centers in Tongatapu, ‘Eua and Ha’apai.
Update contact information
Regarding international connectivity, it is still limited, but the situation is gradually improving, said the humanitarian coordinating body.
Among other initiatives, a ship is on its way to repair severely damaged underwater communications cables – the country’s only permanent link to the outside world – but that work could take several weeks to complete. Communication with the outer islands is still very limited.
Through the Emergency Telecommunication Cluster, the World Food Program (WFP) is helping the process of re-establishing communications, especially telephone and internet services.
As explained to UN News, the agency is also supporting food security and logistics clusters, working to assess needs, priorities and other logistical aspects of the humanitarian response.
WFP also activated itDonate responsiblyawareness campaign on how people can donate responsibly.
Airports open
After being closed for several days due to ash on the runway, debris at Fua’amotu International Airport is said to have been cleared through the tireless efforts of the Tongan government and is now operational.
Relief flights from New Zealand and Australia arrived on Thursday, and a domestic flight departed for Ha’apai, confirming that the airport there was also operational.
Oil spill in Peru
The effects of the eruption and tsunami were also felt across the Pacific Ocean, in Peru, where a United Nations team of nations is monitoring the effects of the catastrophic oil spill, thousands of miles away. West.
The spill is impacting two nature reserves in the South American country, affecting livelihoods as well as life in and on the water, according to authorities.
The UN Resident Coordinator, Igor Garafulic, met the authorities on Thursday morning and pledged the full support of the UN team to tackle the ecological disaster.
The largest volcanic eruption recorded in thirty years.
A huge mushroom-shaped cloud of smoke and ash 20 kilometers high was followed by a tsunami, and the eruption was heard as far away as Australia and New Zealand.
Waves as high as 1.2 meters crashed into the capital Nuku’alofa, where its inhabitants fled to high ground, leaving homes flooded, while rocks and ash fell from the sky. falling.
