United Nations, Tonga: eruption, tsunami and devastation

United Nations, 80% of Tonga's population has been affected by eruptions and tsunamis. According to estimates by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), about 12,000 families were affected by the volcanic eruption and tsunami that hit the islands of Tonga over the weekend. In total, some 84,000 people, more than 80% of the South Pacific Kingdom's population, were affected by the disaster. In addition to the three deaths reported earlier in the week, no other deaths have been confirmed. In an update released Thursday, OCHA confirms that the entire economically viable agricultural sector, including crops, livestock and fisheries, has suffered substantially.

Oil spill in Peru - The effects of the eruption and tsunami have also been felt across the Pacific, Peru, where the United Nations national team is following the impacts of a tragic oil spill caused by the disaster, thousands of miles west. According to authorities, the spill impacts two nature reserves in the South American country, affecting livelihoods and life underwater and above the water. On Thursday morning, UN resident coordinator Igor Garafulic met with authorities and engaged the entire UN team to tackle the ecological disaster. The volcanic eruption was the largest recorded in thirty years. A huge 20km-high mushroom cloud of smoke and ash was followed by a tsunami and the eruption was heard as far as Australia and New Zealand.

On January 19, the United Nations Resident Coordinator received a request for urgent assistance from the government of Tonga. The emergency telecommunications cluster is coordinating with local, regional and global partners to deploy critical communications equipment. This will ensure that the government and emergency responders have access to communication tools to coordinate the response and allow those affected to contact their families. Access to safe water for 50,000 people across the island nation remains a serious concern. Water quality tests are ongoing and most people rely on bottled water. (Italia News Press Agency - Media Partner United Nations -NY- www.italianews.org)