The Embassy of Finland in Canberra monitors the situation in Tonga closely. There are currently no Finns registered as travelling/residing in Tonga. Finland’s core funding to humanitarian aid is helping the UN agencies and the International Committee of the Red Cross ICRC to operate flexibly and to provide disaster relief and aid also in Tonga.
On 15 January 2022, the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai volcano erupted off the coast of Tonga, triggering a tsunami warning across the pacific. Volcanic ash from the eruption blanketed the islands contaminating water supplies and agriculture. While a comprehensive damage assessment is still underway, the initial 15-metre high waves have reportedly destroyed many homes and damaged infrastructure. Communications suffered as the underwater data cable was damaged. After an initial break, these lines of communications are slowly being restored.
Core funding to international humanitarian organisations is a rapid and effective way to respond to sudden-onset natural disasters and protracted crises. Core funding helps UN agencies and the International Committee of the Red Cross ICRC to operate in areas where people need help, and to plan their operations flexibly. In January, Finland released EUR 27.5 Million in core funding to humanitarian aid. Through the UN humanitarian agencies, these funds can be distributed and utilised to provide disaster relief and aid to causes around the world. For more information see:
The Embassy of Finland continues to monitor the situation. If you are traveling in the region, please follow the instructions given by local authorities and should you require emergency assistance, contact the local rescue authorities (police, fire and ambulance services).
There are currently no Finns officially registered as travelling in Tonga. In the event of an emergency or crisis, the Ministry can contact those who have submitted their travel notification and contact details at matkustusilmoitus.fi.
To register your travel details, visit www.matkustusilmoitus.fi.(Link to another website.)
For emergency 24/7 consular service, contact:
+358 9 1605 5555