The South Asia Times Report

NEW ZEALAND (TSAT) - New Zealand government on Tuesday said the country is ready to send humanitarian assistance to disaster-hit Tonga, however ash on the country main airport runway preventing airplan from landing.

In a statemnet, the country's foreign minister Nanaia Mahuta said that the runway need to be cleared before airplane sending to the Pacific country. 

“Following the successful surveillance and reconnaissance flight of a New Zealand P-3K2 Orion on Monday, imagery and details have been sent to relevant authorities in Tonga, to aid in decisions about what support is most needed,” said Nanaia Mahuta.

“However images show ashfall on the Nuku’alofa airport runway that must be cleared before a C-130 Hercules flight with humanitarian assistance can land,” she added. 

Meanwhile, the New Zealand government has decided to send two Royal New Zealand Navy Ships to deliver aid as the Pacific country facing huge disaster in  years. 

The country's defense minister Peeni Henare said that people in Tonga hit areas are urgently need dranking water and his country  sending 250,000 liters water

“HMNZS Wellington will be carrying Hydrographic Survey and Diving Teams, as well as an SH-2G(I) Seasprite helicopter. HMNZS Aotearoa will carry bulk water supplies and humanitarian and disaster relief stores,” said Peeni Henare. 

“Water is among the highest priorities for Tonga at this stage and HMNZS Aotearoa can carry 250,000 litres, and produce 70,000 litres per day through a desalination plant.

“The survey and diving teams are able to show changes to the seabed in the shipping channels and ports. They will also assess wharf infrastructure to assure the future delivery of aid and support from the sea,”

“The journey for both ships will take three days. They will return to New Zealand if not required,” according to the defense minister.

“A C-130 Hercules aircraft is on standby to deliver humanitarian aid and disaster relief stores including collapsible water containers, generators and hygiene kits for families once the airport runway is cleared. Other deployments are possible in the next few days, subject to Tongan Government requests and permissions, and COVID-19 border rules,” Nanaia Mahuta said.

Tonga is currently free of COVID and operates strict border controls to keep COVID-19 out. All current support is being delivered in a contactless way. Officials are in discussions around long-term options for support.

The New Zealand Government has also allocated a further $500,000 in humanitarian assistance, taking our initial funding total to $1 million. 

Meanwhile, the Australian government also announced $1 million initial aid for the country on Monday and said to send humanitarian aid as well. 

The underwater massive volcano on Friday has also disturbed the communication systaem as the internet disconnection, even official websites and other means of communications have remained silent since Sunday, ABC News reported.

So far, Japan says that at least two people were killed in the natural disater, however the country government has not issued any official detail about the damages.

The volcano, located 65 kilometers (40 miles) north of Nuku'alofa, had begun spewing ash, steam, and gas on Friday morning.