The Commonwealth family has mobilised to assist the Kingdom of Tonga in its time of need, following a devastating undersea volcanic eruption on 15 January 2022, which generated tsunami waves of up to 15m high.
About 85 percent of the country has been affected, with vital communications networks cut off for days and water supply severely compromised by acid rain and ashfall. Three people have lost their lives.
In the wake of the disaster, there has been an outpouring of support from across the world, including from Commonwealth member governments such as Australia, Fiji, India, New Zealand and the United Kingdom, who, alongside many other nations, have generously provided much needed humanitarian relief. Multilateral organisations, NGOs and the Tongan diaspora overseas are also actively channelling assistance to the country.
The Commonwealth Secretariat is supporting the High Commission of Tonga in London through technical advice, communications support and in-kind assistance. At the request of the Tongan High Commission, the Commonwealth Secretariat is hosting this webpage to provide essential information on the following:
Press releases from the Government of Tonga
- First Official Update (PDF)
- Second Official Update (PDF)
- Statement by the High Commissioner of Tonga to the UK (PDF)
- Press Releases from the Government of Tonga
Donations, to be conveyed to the Government of Tonga, can be made to:
- Bank: Barclays
- Account name: Tonga High Commission
- Account number: 20908355
- Sort Code: 20-65-90
- Swift Code: BUKBGB22
For contributions to the Blue Pacific Tonga Appeal, organised by our partners at the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat:
For more information, or for media enquiries, please contact:
- Tel: +44 20 7724 5828
- Email: [email protected]
