{"id":478099,"date":"2022-01-20T20:56:56","date_gmt":"2022-01-20T20:56:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/asiapacificreport.nz\/?p=69050"},"modified":"2022-01-20T20:56:56","modified_gmt":"2022-01-20T20:56:56","slug":"safety-at-tonga-port-being-checked-for-arrival-of-more-humanitarian-supplies","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/radiofree.asia\/2022\/01\/20\/safety-at-tonga-port-being-checked-for-arrival-of-more-humanitarian-supplies\/","title":{"rendered":"Safety at Tonga port being checked for arrival of more humanitarian supplies"},"content":{"rendered":"
RNZ News<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n Specialist New Zealand Defence Force staff will be checking Tonga’s shipping lanes are passable and the wharf is safe so desperately needed humanitarian supplies can get through.<\/p>\n Three deaths have been confirmed after Saturday’s massive volcanic eruption. There are reports of significant injuries, but no details yet.<\/p>\n UN officials said<\/a> 84,000 people – more than 80 percent of Tonga’s population — had been impacted by tsunami and the ashfall that followed the eruption.<\/p>\n New Zealand Defence Force Rear Admiral Jim Gilmour said there were fears for food security, with reports ash was killing crops.<\/p>\n Ash and sea water have also contaminated water supplies.<\/p>\n Offshore patrol vessel HMNZS Wellington<\/em>, which is carrying a helicopter, technical gear, and teams, has arrived in Tongan waters.<\/p>\n “They commenced clearing the outer part of the Nuku’alofa harbour and they’ll be working in towards the wharf area and terminal area,” Admiral Gilmour told RNZ Morning Report.<\/i><\/p>\n Scoping shipping channels<\/strong> “Water is among the highest priorities for Tonga, and the Aotearoa can carry 250,000 litres, and produce 70,000 litres per day through a desalination plant,” Admiral Gilmour said.<\/p>\n “I feel that the most value that she’s going to provide today is bring able to discharge fresh water into water tanks for distribution around Tongatapu.”<\/p>\n Admiral Gilmour said staff did not need to set foot on Tonga at all, in an effort to avoid spreading covid-19 to the currently coronavirus-free country.<\/p>\n Sanitised containers will be moved by crane from the ship onto the dock or hauled by personnel in full PPE.<\/p>\n They will then withdraw and Tongans will pick up the goods.<\/p>\n\n
\nIt will scope the shipping channels and wharves at the main port to see if they safe enough to use to drop off supplies, in time for HMNZS Aotearoa<\/em> due today, which is carrying a range of stores including water, long life non-perishable foods, hygiene kits and shelter.<\/p>\n