NGO concerned about children on Tonga islands

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Hundreds of homes in Tonga's smaller outer islands have been destroyed, and at least three people have died, after Saturday's (January 15) devastating eruption which the government called 'an unprecedented disaster.'

"This sort of event would obviously lead to a lot of mental trauma and there is absolutely a need for psychosocial support and counseling for children," CEO of Save the Children Fiji, Shairana Ali, told Reuters. Ali added that compared to tropical cyclones that the country had experiences facing, the volcanic eruption and tsunami posed new challenges with aircraft unable to land on runways due to heavy ashfall, as well as compromised communication lines.

With communications badly hampered by the severing of an undersea cable, information on the scale of the devastation so far has mostly come from reconnaissance aircraft.

Tonga is expected to issue formal requests for aid soon, however in the meantime New Zealand and Australian ships have set off with water supplies, survey teams and helicopters.