03 February 2022 – The Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) is deeply concerned about the impact of the Hunga Tonga – Hunga Ha’apai underwater volcano eruption, and tsunami, on the people of the Kingdom of Tonga.
As a response, Mr Kosi Letu, Director General, assured that SPREP was standing by and available to help the Government of Tonga as well as its partners, especially when it comes to dealing with the environmental effects of the natural disaster.
“First and foremost, we express our heartfelt sorrow at the loss of life as a result of the disaster,” Mr Latu said. “As people of the Pacific, we are a close-knit community and we share the pain of the loss of lives and the destruction of property. We are also thinking of the people of Tonga, as they attempt to resolve COVID-19 within the shortest time possible after the tsunami and volcano devastation. These are very difficult times but we are standing by to provide assistance where we are needed.”
According to the Government of Tonga, 84% of the population was directly affected. Tonga’s key challenges continue to be access to safe water, ash clearance, ensuring food security and dealing with COVID-19 .
The Pacific environmental regional organisation is coordinating the wide range of assistance within its mandate and areas of expertise to help Tonga to assess the impacts of the eruption and tsunami on Tonga’s environment and appropriate measures to restore it to support the resiliency and livelihoods of the people of Tonga. SPREP works in partnership with the Council of Regional Organisations of the Pacific for coordinated, united support to Tonga.
Mr Latu observed that the volcanic eruption, the tsunami that followed and the volcanicash it produced, have once more highlighted Tonga’s vulnerability and that of the Pacific region. The Pacific Islands are the top three countries in the World Risk Index 2021 Report for the highest disaster risk. Tonga is listed as third, Vanuatu is first, and Solomon Islands is second. The Report assesses the disaster risk for 181 countries which covers almost 99% of the world’s total population. Papua New Guinea ranks ninth among the top 15 countries at highest risk of disaster, while Fiji is ranked fourteenth.(Insert Link Here)
“SPREP will engage with the Government of Tonga and all the relevant partners and stakeholders to assist where we can, as we try to remedy the damage done to the environment, which will have a direct impact on livelihoods,” the Director General said.
Mr Latu and his Leadership team from the four priority areas of SPREP’s work, Biodiversity and Ecosystem Management, Waste Management and Pollution Control, Climate Change and Environmental Monitoring and Governance, have been working to look at ways to provide support to Tonga during the recovery and rebuilding phase. SPREP identified the following key environmental impacts in its initial assessments:
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Natural disasters – such as volcanic eruptions and tsunamis compound the impacts of other key human drivers of biodiversity loss such as invasive species, climate change and habitat destruction.
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Volcanic ash is a complex mixture of chemicals that includes micronutrients. These chemicals can trigger algae blooms, and possibly cause changes in the benthic composition of coral reefs. It is possible to release these nutrients to water in a complex way. This can lead to a favorable environment for nitrogen fixing organisms and the stimulation of harmful algal blossoms such as cyanobacteria.
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Negative impact on Tonga’s protected areas such as the effect of flooding and debris generated by the tsunami – damage to vegetation, inshore fisheries, coral reefs, mangroves, etc. There is also concern that ash cloud – blocking out sunlight for extended periods – can lead to the creation of acid rain, potential fish-die offs and coral reef smothering.
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It is possible that there will be significant impact on land and sea in the months ahead. This, along with the current human-induced degradation and exacerbated disease (COVID-19), makes it highly probable that protected areas will face increased pressure regarding legal and illegal harvesting and overexploitation of species that are highly valued as food resources and livelihoods.
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Tonga’s ability and ability to withstand rising waters and storm surges could be affected by the loss coral reefs. This would lead to increased erosion of the coastline. This is a concern for Tonga, where climate change is driving the sea level to rise by about 6 millimeters (0.2 inches) per year — double the global average.
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For emergency response and recovery, it is essential to have the right waste management processes in place. Planning is essential to ensure that cleanup resources are prioritized and that coordination is effective.
Concluded Mr Latu: “These are some of the key environmental concerns we have in the aftermath of the tsunami. We are also aware that the tsunami’s impact on the Pacific Ocean is not just limited to Tonga. It affects all of Pacific Islanders and it is important that we all work together in order to reduce the damage. The way forward is not going to be easy, especially with the added challenge of COVID-19, but we stand ready to do our part to help.”
SPREP
SPREP is the region’s premier inter-governmental organisation for Pacific environment and sustainable development. SPREP’s purpose is to promote cooperation within the South Pacific Region, to provide assistance, to protect and enhance the environment, and to ensure sustainable growth for the present and future generations. Learn more at: https://www.sprep.org/