Tonga: Volcanic Eruption Emergency Response Project
The Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai undersea volcano, located about 65 kilometers north of the Kingdom of Tonga's capital Nuku'alofa, erupted on 15 January 2022. The eruption produced an ash cloud that rose 30 kilometers (km) in altitude, launched an estimated 1 cubic kilometer of material into the atmosphere, and triggered a tsunami which resulted in inundation in Tonga and affected other countries, with waves recorded as far away as Japan, Peru, and the United States.
Project Details
-
Project Officer
Olsson, Sivou Beatrice
Pacific Department
Request for information -
Country/Economy
Tonga -
Sector
- Public sector management
| Project Name | Volcanic Eruption Emergency Response Project | ||||
| Project Number | 56008-001 | ||||
| Country / Economy | Tonga |
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| Project Status | Closed | ||||
| Project Type / Modality of Assistance | Grant |
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| Source of Funding / Amount |
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| Strategic Agendas | Environmentally sustainable growth Inclusive economic growth |
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| Drivers of Change | Gender Equity and Mainstreaming Governance and capacity development Private sector development |
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| Sector / Subsector | Public sector management / Public expenditure and fiscal management |
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| Gender Equity and Mainstreaming | Gender equity | ||||
| Description | The Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai undersea volcano, located about 65 kilometers north of the Kingdom of Tonga's capital Nuku'alofa, erupted on 15 January 2022. The eruption produced an ash cloud that rose 30 kilometers (km) in altitude, launched an estimated 1 cubic kilometer of material into the atmosphere, and triggered a tsunami which resulted in inundation in Tonga and affected other countries, with waves recorded as far away as Japan, Peru, and the United States. An estimated 85,000 people (84% of the population) were directly affected. Tsunami waves affected the west coast of Tongatapu (the main island), the island of 'Eua, and the Ha'apai group of islands, travelling up to 200 meters inland. The Government of Tonga reported three confirmed fatalities. The islands of 'Atata, Mango, Fonoifua, and Nomuka were the worst affected with all but the largest buildings destroyed, leaving widespread debris. The populations of these islands were evacuated to other islands where evacuation shelters were established. Government reported 293 houses across Tonga were damaged or destroyed and over 1,500 persons were displaced. Ashfall, measuring between 5-10 centimeters thick on Tongatapu, impacted all island groups, resulting in defoliated trees, buried crops, damaged public infrastructure and houses, and contaminated water supplies. These impacts led to food and water insecurity. The government declared a state of emergency commencing 16 January 2022, pursuant to section 32 of the Emergency Management Act. The National Emergency Management Office coordinated and monitored relief efforts by government agencies, and local and international nongovernmental organizations. Immediate relief efforts focused on the provision of food, non-food items (including water containers, hygiene kits, and household items), shelter, and clean-up of the ashfall. The restoration of critical infrastructure and essential services, particularly international and domestic communications, were also prioritized. Restoration efforts were challenging due to the nationwide state of emergency in place for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Humanitarian and development partner support was critical to help the government meet immediate needs of the impacted population. The government requested support from ADB under the Asia Pacific Disaster Response Fund (APDRF) on 25 January 2022. The UN Resident Coordinator, on 27 January 2022, confirmed the need for APDRF assistance and acknowledged that a contribution by ADB to support the government to meet immediate humanitarian needs, in partnership with the international humanitarian community, would be appreciated. Based on identified needs, a grant of $500,000.00 from the APDRF was approved to help fund expenses necessary to restore life-sustaining services, including but not limited to: (i) provision of medical kits, food, and bottled drinking water; (ii) purchase of water purification and sanitation systems; (iii) provision of transitional shelter; (iv) provision of personal hygiene kits; (v) site clearing; and (vi) safe disposal of useless rubble. |
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| Project Rationale and Linkage to Country/Regional Strategy | The damage caused by the volcanic eruption and tsunami was of a scale beyond the government's resources and capacity to restore life-sustaining services to the affected population in a reasonable time. Border closures in response to the COVID-19 pandemic had also deeply affected Tonga's economy, which contracted by an estimated 5.3% in FY2021 (ended 30 June 2021). Fiscal pressures also increased due to declines in government revenues and increased expenditure, including on health and to support vulnerable people, which constrained the government's ability to respond to this disaster. There was also concern that the impacts of the disaster and the effects of the ashfall would further compound the socioeconomic pressures on Tongan families caused by the COVID-19-induced economic shock. The impact of the disaster placed an additional burden on households, requiring extra expenditures at a time when incomes have already been lost or reduced due to the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic and Tropical Cyclone Harold in 2020. The significant long-term social, psychological, and economic impacts on the affected population was a paramount concern, particularly because it affected people who were highly reliant on subsistence farming for food security and livelihoods. | ||||
| Impact | Not Applicable |
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| Project Outcome | |
|---|---|
| Description of Outcome | Not Applicable |
| Progress Toward Outcome | |
| Implementation Progress | |
| Description of Project Outputs | Not Applicable |
| Status of Implementation Progress (Outputs, Activities, and Issues) | |
| Geographical Location | Nation-wide |
| Safeguard Categories | |
|---|---|
| Environment | C |
| Involuntary Resettlement | C |
| Indigenous Peoples | C |
| Summary of Environmental and Social Aspects | |
|---|---|
| Environmental Aspects | |
| Involuntary Resettlement | |
| Indigenous Peoples | |
| Stakeholder Communication, Participation, and Consultation | |
| During Project Design | |
| During Project Implementation | |
| Responsible ADB Officer | Olsson, Sivou Beatrice |
| Responsible ADB Department | Pacific Department |
| Responsible ADB Division | Pacific Subregional Office in Suva, Fiji |
| Executing Agencies |
Ministry of Finance |
| Timetable | |
|---|---|
| Concept Clearance | - |
| Fact Finding | 18 Jan 2022 to 18 Jan 2022 |
| MRM | - |
| Approval | 07 Feb 2022 |
| Last Review Mission | - |
| Last PDS Update | 21 Sep 2022 |
Grant 0824-TON
| Milestones | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Approval | Signing Date | Effectivity Date | Closing | ||
| Original | Revised | Actual | |||
| 07 Feb 2022 | 10 Feb 2022 | 10 Feb 2022 | 07 Aug 2022 | - | 19 Dec 2022 |
| Financing Plan | Grant Utilization | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total (Amount in US$ million) | Date | ADB | Others | Net Percentage | |
| Project Cost | 0.50 | Cumulative Contract Awards | |||
| ADB | 0.50 | 20 Jan 2023 | 0.50 | 0.00 | 100% |
| Counterpart | 0.00 | Cumulative Disbursements | |||
| Cofinancing | 0.00 | 20 Jan 2023 | 0.50 | 0.00 | 100% |
Project Data Sheets (PDS) contain summary information on the project or program. Because the PDS is a work in progress, some information may not be included in its initial version but will be added as it becomes available. Information about proposed projects is tentative and indicative.
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| Title | Document Type | Document Date |
|---|---|---|
| Grant Agreement (Asia Pacific Disaster Response Fund) for Grant 0824-TON: Volcanic Eruption Emergency Response Project | Grant Agreement | Feb 2022 |
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