By Tupou Vaipulu Jr

Yesterday, a delegation, made up of members of the United States Congress and the United Nations Foundation (UNF), visited areas recovering from the impacts of the HTHH eruption on Tongatapu, including the ‘Atata community at ‘Atata Si’i in Hihifo. During a one-day visit to Tonga they also held key meetings with Government and civil society, as well as visits to schools, UN-supported projects, and the Vaiola Hospital.

The delegation wanted to engage with members of the ‘Atata community and others who were affected by the volcanic eruption.

“The delegation came to Tonga to better understand the collaboration between the government, local communities and the United Nations,” said Rep. Peter Yeo, Snr Vice President of the UN Foundation, as they were welcomed by the community at ‘Atata Si’i with songs and prayers.

They heard how a mother of two, ‘Elisiva Halaifonua, was swept away from their island by the tsunami but survived and was relocated to the new community. “We lost our home -our island -and everything we knew,” she said. “Back at our island things were easier, we grew our own crops and seafood was free.”

Coping with this emergency relocation from their island village to Tongatapu has been difficult on the ‘Atata community and she thanked the delegation for their support in making the situation easier to deal with.

The delegation consisted of people from different organizations including the UN through the Pacific Humanitarian Team, UN Agencies, the Red Cross and international NGOs.

The members of the US Congress who came to Tonga were: U.S. Representative Ed Case, Congressman Ami Bera, Congresswoman Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, Congresswoman Sara Jacobs, Rep Ted W. Lieu, Rep. Donald Norcross and Rep. Peter Yeo.

UN-Tonga country plan

The UN Resident Coordinator to Tonga, Mr Dirk Wagener, who accompanied the delegation, met with Hon. Samiu Vaipulu, Acting Prime Minister of Tonga and government officials.

“This meeting provides an important opportunity for the Congressional delegation to gain a deeper understanding of the challenges facing Small Island Developing States like Tonga, and to explore collaborative solutions that the US - through partners such as UN - can bring to help address these pressing issues,” he said.

Tonga faces many developmental challenges, all of which are exacerbated by the climate change emergency, COVID-19 and increasingly frequent and intense disasters.

In total, there are 23 UN agencies working in Tonga, including non-resident agencies.

The interconnectivity of economic, health, development, nutrition, and climate challenges in Tonga, combined with its remoteness, all contribute to its classification as the world’s second most at-risk country in the world in terms of its exposure and susceptibility to natural hazards and the unfolding effects of climate change.

Their programs have reached a significant number of individuals across various sectors including, WASH, which has benefited over 40,000 people while Health and Nutrition efforts reached 85,000 individuals in Tonga.

Education interventions also impacted 28,000 students, Protection services supported 10,000 individuals and Communication efforts engaged over 60,000 people.

The UN-Tonga Country Implementation Plan (CIP) 2023 – 2025, endorsed by the Government of Tonga in May 2023, defines UN assistance to Tonga to achieve its Strategic Development Framework and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

With an annual budget for 2023 of USD$17m, the CIP focuses on four pillars – Planet, People, Prosperity and Peace – “to contribute to a Pacific region where all people are equal and free to exercise their fundamental rights, enjoying gender equality and peace, resilient to the existential threats and living in harmony with the blue continent.”