How to donate responsibly to the Tonga eruption response

Following the eruption of the Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai volcano on Saturday evening, family, friends, the Pacific community and many around the world have started mobilising to organise fundraising events and support for the Kingdom of Tonga.

While New Zealand NGO's wait for official damage reports, the re-establishment of communications with their partner organisations and colleagues in Tonga is a priority.

The Council for International Development (Umbrella organisation for New Zealand's aid charities) have put together some resources on how to best support the Kingdom of Tonga 

They have pre-positioned humanitarian stock within the region which means they are ready to support impacted communities as a matter of urgency. Any response will be coordinated with the New Zealand government’s response, and risks associated with the covid pandemic are also factored in.

Click here for Pacific language fact sheets – Cook Islands Maori, Samoa, Tonga, Fiji, Bislama (Vanuatu), Tuvalu, Tonga, Kiribati.  

Tongan language fact sheets below: 

They encourage New Zealanders and the Pacific community who would like to help to donate money rather than send stuff that may not be needed.

You can find the english language fact sheets and more information on the Donate Responsibly website including info on the power of remittances and tips on the best money transfer service.

“Kiwi generosity following an emergency in the Pacific is the stuff of legend. But we know from previous experience how disruptive containers of goods sent by the public can be to any local emergency response,” says Quenelda Clegg.

During previous Pacific emergencies, local businesses desperate for customers, were undercut by donated overseas goods, many that were still available locally. These containers took up valuable wharf, blocked vital humanitarian supplies coming through, and in many cases, stuff not needed ends up in landfill.

For those who would still like to donate goods, please consider this checklist below - 

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