image source,Getty Images
Military planes from New Zealand and Australia delivering aid have arrived in Tonga.
The international community’s humanitarian relief efforts in Tonga have been complicated by concerns over the prevention and control of the new crown epidemic.
Tonga’s volcano erupted on Saturday (January 15) and caused a tsunami that wreaked havoc on the South Pacific island nation.
International relief operations are currently underway, but Tonga was one of the few countries in the world not affected by the coronavirus before the disaster. Except for one case reported in October last year (2021), the island has basically maintained “zero new crowns”.
The Tongan government is also determined to keep this Covid-19 clear. But this brings challenges to international humanitarian relief operations. How to transport relief supplies without bringing in the virus from the outside world?
In order to avoid allowing the virus to take advantage, the Tongan authorities emphasized the need to distribute relief supplies in a “contactless” manner.
How to do contactless rescue?
Aaron Davy, from the New Zealand Council for International Development, said emergency supplies were being brought into Tonga, but people were not going in, and the transport was following strict Covid-19 measures.
“Even when repairing damaged submarine communication cables, it was done without contact with local people,” he said.
At the same time, aid agencies provide remote assistance – such as providing specialized skills coordination – but it is up to local governments and community groups to implement them.
Jonathan Veitch, UNICEF’s Pacific Islands coordinator, said they had some staff and partners in Tonga, so they could work with them on planning and support them without having to travel in person.
Veitch also said that they had helped Tonga vaccinate the entire population, so a “contactless assistance” approach was feasible.
But he said that in the end they still need to send some experts into Tonga, such as water supply, cleaning and sanitation, reconstruction, etc. At that time, they need to negotiate with the Tongan government about safety isolation measures.
image source,Hannah Peters
Contactless vaccine delivery operations by the New Zealand Navy.
Is there a precedent?
The answer is yes. During the new crown epidemic, New Zealand has carried out several contactless operations in the region. For example, they first used warships to deliver vaccines to Pacific island countries, and then they were transported ashore by helicopter or inflatable boat, and they stayed with the receiving team during the shore delivery. distance.
They operate strictly according to regulations – such as wearing protective clothing – to avoid any possibility of transmission. The crew also received special training to ensure careful handling when handing over the vaccine boxes.
In April 2020, the no-contact method was also used when distributing relief supplies to the cyclone-affected island nation of Vanuatu.
Vanuatu does not allow foreign aid workers to enter the country, and even humanitarian aid delivered by plane has been sterilized and quarantined for 3 days beforehand.
David said the virus had forced a change in aid, and a more local approach had proved more effective.
“Not only have we avoided the spread of Covid-19 in Vanuatu, but we have also supported local experts by directing funding and resources to them,” he said.
How did Tonga achieve zero new crowns?
Tonga has effectively closed its borders to international travel. It has suspended all commercial flights to the country and has very limited options to leave Tonga.
Only Tongan citizens, permanent residents and some travellers approved by the Ministry of Health can enter Tonga on occasional evacuation charter flights. But they must undergo a 21-day quarantine upon arrival.
About 60% of Tonga’s population of 105,000 received two complete doses of the vaccine.
Tonga has imposed strict internal restrictions since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, including a nighttime curfew and restrictions on gatherings.
image source,Reuters
International aid agencies will abide by strict epidemic prevention and safety measures.
Why is Tonga so worried about the new crown?
Tonga, an island nation of more than 170 islands, relies heavily on foreign tourism for its economy.
Some of these island communities are located in remote areas and therefore have limited medical resources, making them particularly vulnerable to outbreaks.
There are also concerns that the lack of exposure to the virus means there is little immunity in the population.
In addition, Tongans’ fear of the virus also includes historical reasons.
When the Spanish flu reached Tonga a century ago, the virus also spread rapidly in Tonga as ships carrying sick people arrived.
It is estimated that about 8% of the island’s population died as a result.
Going back further, in the 18th century, other diseases such as measles and dysentery also came to the island with outsiders, destabilizing the island’s society.