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The first aid deliveries have reached the island state of Tonga by plane
Photo: HANDOUT/AFP
SPIEGEL:
Ms. Ford, you're part of the Australian Red Cross' crisis management team, coordinating the aid that's now being sent to Tonga.
What do the people there need most?
Sophie Ford:
As you probably know, after the volcanic eruption, communication with the islands is very limited.
The undersea cable is broken, the internet is down.
But we are now in contact with the Red Cross in Tonga.
The colleagues inform us that drinking water is urgently needed.
The supply is critical because the volcanic ash has contaminated the water sources.
In addition, many houses have been destroyed.
It is important that we provide the people with basic relief supplies: food parcels, tents, cooking utensils or tarpaulins with which damage to houses can be covered for the time being.
SPIEGEL
: Tonga's Prime Minister Siaosi Sovaleni spoke of an "unprecedented catastrophe."
How much do you now know about the level of destruction?
Ford
: The fallen ash covered the islands in a thick layer.
The tsunami destroyed many buildings on the Ha'apai archipelago.
The Tonga government reports that on some islands, such as Mango, virtually all houses have been destroyed.
There, the residents are to be evacuated and taken to the main island of Tongatapu.
A large part of the 100,000 inhabitants who live on the 170 islands are likely to be affected by the disaster.
We know of three deaths.
Reconnaissance pilots are now assessing the extent of the situation from the air.
SPIEGEL
: Australia, New Zealand and Japan have sent planes and ships to the crisis area.
Some have already landed or should be there on Friday.
Are your people on board there too?
Ford
: At the moment we support remotely. Luckily, the essential supplies were already in stock on the islands and have been distributed since shortly after the eruption. We are now sending mosquito nets, tarpaulins, water tanks, solar lamps and emergency shelter kits to supplement local supplies. Later it will also be important to provide long-term support to the people on site, especially when it comes to the consequences of trauma or financial losses.
SPIEGEL
: So far there has only been one infection with the coronavirus in Tonga - a great success for the country, but combined with economic slumps and strict quarantines;
Families could not see each other for months or years.
There is great concern that the helpers from Australia are now bringing the virus in.
Ford
: We really have to be careful not to bring an additional problem with outside help.
But I am sure that Australia is very cautious on this point.
And: The relief supplies are to be handed over largely without contact, the machines from abroad only remain on the ground for a very short time.
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