This week I was thinking about Tonga and the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai volcano which erupted almost one year ago on January 15, 2022. How can the people of Tonga be so resilient? Besides the ash, smoke and gases that were the highest ever reported, how does a country recover from that? Not to mention one of the loudest and most explosive events in over a century. 

One year later, coral reefs are failing to mature in the waters around the eruption site. On a good note, despite the ash which covered their lands, food production is thriving. One of the hardest impacts was loss of assets, boats, homes, and farms. Tourism was brought to a standstill, as well as fisheries and agricultural trades. 

(The before and after effect of the ash fall). 

I was following @ordinarytonganlives on Instagram and one woman recounts what she went through on that day of the eruption:

“My husband was still inside the house when we ran. He later came looking for us. Talaiasi Seni’s house was our first place of refuge as it’s on elevated ground. Many other mothers and children from the village join us there.

When the first explosion sounded, we had already seen hig waves crashing in the middle of the village, taking our houses with it. We decided to run further to even higher ground. That meant heading to the bush.

I tell you, the cries and echoes of prayers from mothers and children were heard throughout. ‘Jesus, please save us. Oh Jesus, let us live.’ That was repeatedly called out that evening into the night. Even I could no longer be quiet as I cried out in prayer.

When everyone settled on higher ground in the midst of a manioke plantation, I asked if we can all say a prayer. I said, ‘We have nowhere else to run now. If it’s God’s will that we die, we will do so gratefully. But let us call on Him first.’ And so we sat down in the midst of the bush. Some held onto trees and some hid in the bush. But every single one of us uttered our most sincere prayers to God for our lives.” 

Tonga is the third highest country at risk for disasters in the world with high exposure to cyclones, earthquakes and flooding. Tonga is also vulnerable to climate change and the rising of sea levels. 

There are so many disasters happening in the world any given day, and we tend to forget after they are a few months old. Tonga is still trying to recover. Here are four places to donate for relief efforts.

• Tonga Tsunami relief by Pita Taufatofua
• Disaster Cash Assistance for Citizens of Tonga
• Help to Tonga Tsunami
• Friends of Tonga

From Tamara Bauman, A Tongan who now lives in America: “Despite the devastation to our beautiful island country, Tongans are known for their toughness and resiliency. Fun Fact: Tonga has NEVER been colonized! Is it because we’re badass survivors? I’d like to think so! However, it’s more likely that we have a special relationship with the Earth and waters that surround our islands.” A Call To Action

We forget about people on the other side of the world, but one day it could be one of us! The Earth we live on is more fragile than we think, and we are all interconnected. 

Malo!