These aid missions are complicated by the refusal to contact the crews, in order to preserve the island kingdom from Covid-19.
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French Polynesia will send, Friday, January 28, from Tahiti, food, water and clothing to the Tonga islands, bruised by a volcanic eruption. These assistance missions are complicated by Tonga’s refusal to contact the crews, in order to preserve this archipelago from Covid-19 which has not yet reached these remote islands in the Pacific.
The departure of the ship Tahiti Nui is expected on Friday, with 120 cisterns of drinking water ranging from 500 to 2,000 liters, as water in Tonga has been polluted by ash fallout. French Polynesia also delivers 210 tarpaulins intended to protect the roofs of houses, as well as chainsaws. It will take four and a half days for the boat to reach Tonga from Tahiti.
A French patrol boat, theArago, also left Papeete with 40 tons of cargo on board for an arrival scheduled for January 29 in Tonga. In particular, it will deliver equipment to build emergency shelters (500 tents, ropes, tools), hygiene kits and solar lamps, as well as water and food rations.