Tonga Emergency
GiveOut has activated our LGBTQI Emergency Fund in response to the massive underwater volcano and tsunami in Tonga. We are asking you – our community and corporate allies – to donate to this appeal to support the Tonga Leitis Association in providing humanitarian relief to the LGBTQI community.
All of Tonga has been covered in dangerous volcanic ash, and buildings in coastal areas have been ripped apart, leaving many Tongans without shelter. The eruption severed the country’s main communication line, making it difficult to establish early contact. The delivery of relief provisions has been further complicated as the authorities are trying to prevent the spread of COVID, with only one case to date.
Tonga Leitis Association Statement
28th January 2022
The essential need right now is providing food for Tonga Leitis Association (TLA)’s members. The entire island is covered by volcanic ashes, meaning fruits are affected and the ocean is no longer safe for fishing with sea food being poisoned. The essential food needs are flour, sugar, crackers, canned food and more. TLA believes that five months from now, we will run out of canned food as there is no other source of food for the next six months.
The materials and tools that we really need right now are water plaster and hoses to clean the roof tops of our members’ homes as well as our own office. The ashes have covered the entire land which is not healthy, requiring masks and other tools to clean.
We haven’t yet communicated with our members inhabiting the remote islands as we’re still waiting for the local boats which are busy with the Government’s Relief Support schedule to the outer islands. However, the airline is now in service. We will need financial support to reach out to the islands of Ha’apai, Vava’u and ‘Eua where our members are based as communication via phone is still not possible due to the damaged cable line.
At the moment, we have no vehicle as our old vehicle is not working anymore, so we are currently asking a favour of a friend in order to reach out to the remote coastal areas. It is important for us to have a vehicle for this kind of work.
Background
Find out more about the evolving situation in Tonga and the Tonga Leitis Association by clicking the links below: