Tongan community singing for survival
THE Hunga Tonga-hunga-ha’apai has been restless over the course of the past month, preparing for the largest volcanic eruption in the past 30 years.
The tsunami from the eruption caused initial immense damage to the main island, Tongatapu and surrounding islands, but when the explosive waves flooded the islands, a trail of ashes followed – ruining and contaminating all sources of food and water.
With minimal food and water supplies, Tongan residents also have had a lack of internet network to contact their families, including those here in Dubbo.
Originally from Tonga, Josh Sinisa arrived in Dubbo in 2013 to work and send money over to his father and sister who still reside in Tonga.
“When I heard the news, it was devastating as I knew I couldn’t do anything – being so far away from home,” Josh says.
With his family becoming victims to the aftermath of a volcanic eruption followed by a tsunami, Josh shared he is concerned for their safety as they reside on the seashore of the main island.
Last week, the Tongan community in Dubbo collectively gathered to share a prayer and sing in commemorating oved ones back home.
“For us it’s just about getting together and sharing time with one another. We all understand that we’re going through the same thing so we want to support each other in the ways that we can,” he says.
“We’re all finding it very difficult because we haven’t heard from our families.
“There isn’t much we can do for our people back home, except sharing a prayer and singing.”
He says communal singing and praying is their form of grieving and can commence the initial healing process, explaining to Dubbo Photo News the difficulty of living on the island.
“There is not much there for us”, he says, pointing out that the residents live off the land and out of the seas.
With very limited access to money in Tonga, Josh explains it is very important for workers in Dubbo to send money to assist their family’s lives and provide a better living environment.
“If you run out of sugar or bread, you go to the neighbour and ask for a cup or a small amount of whatever you need,” he says.
With ash blanketing crops and water sources, the nation suffers from food shortages and humanitarian supply.
“People don’t realise the severity of it. Tonga relies on rainwater and their water tanks – which now they cannot use due to contamination,” he says.
Thos piloting relief planes were reluctant to fly to Tonga when the disaster initiated due to ash on runways, however there now have been flights carrying aid supplies.
“With minimal machinery to clean the ash off runways, Tongans need to work together,” Josh explains
“It’s all done by human power with brooms and buckets.”
With the tragedy of what Tonga has experienced over the past few days and what it will continue to experience while the island is rebuilding into civilisation, Josh says it “hits the strings when it’s your home that ruined and it makes you think a lot.”