Canberra: British and Australian Navy vessels arrive in Tonga on Wednesday and try to provide assistance without making contact with anyone to land to avoid spreading the Coronavirus in a country that has never experienced an outbreak.
The danger of spreading this disease was underlined when almost two dozen sailors on the Australian ship HMAS Adelaide was reportedly infected on Tuesday, raising fear they could bring Coronavirus to the Pacific Small Islands which was destroyed by the lower volcanic eruption and tsunami on January 15.
Since the pandemic began, Tonga had reported only one Covid-19 case.
This is one of several countries in the world which is currently truly viral free.
About 61% of Tongans are fully vaccinated, according to our world in the data.
Meanwhile, the US announced it would provide an additional $ 2.5 million in humanitarian assistance to Tonga through the US International Development Agency.
Help was an addition to the initial promise of $ 100,000.
England said his ship HMS Spey arrived with 30,000 liters (7,900 gallons) bottled water, medical supply for more than 300 first aid kits, and basic sanitation products.
It was said that there was no sailor who lowered the ship, and instead moved inventory to land.
“England is the old partner of the Pacific Islands, and has a ship deployed in Indo Pacific means that we can be there for Tonga in the time of those in need, because the island began to rebuild their homes and communities,” said Minister of Armed Forces James Hearpey in a statement.
The Australian government said his ship had completed a 3,300 kilometer Voyage (2,050 miles) from Brisbane and would provide inventory without contact with the local population to avoid infection.
“We appreciate the decision of the Tonga government to enable HMAS Adelaide to dock and reduce humanitarian and medical supply, and high priority that has been placed on Covid safety throughout the recovery process,” said the statement.
“The ship makes sending humanitarian assistance and disaster relief inventory without contact.” With the recovery of drinking water, the top priority supply, the ship carries desalination plants.
It also brings helicopters and engineering equipment.
Australia said it expanded disaster support to include power and communication recovery.
Under Pandemic steps, Tonga usually demands quarantine visitors for three weeks on arrival and making it difficult for international disaster response.
All international assistance will be sent without local contact.
The title of Tongan has been wary that receiving international assistance can deliver a greater disaster than the big eruption of volcanoes.
The tsunami killed three people.
The ship is the second aid mission from Australia where at least one member of the crew was tested positively.
The Globemaster C-17 military transportation aircraft previously turned in the middle after someone on board was diagnosed with Coronavirus.