Australian Army soldiers 2nd Combat Engineer Regiment clear debris on Atata Island during Operation Tonga Assist 2022. *** Local Caption *** Operation TONGA ASSIST 22 is the Australian Defence Forces (ADF) is contribution to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT)-led effort to support the Government of Tonga following the eruption of Tongas Hunga Tonga-Hunga Haapai underwater volcano on 15 January and subsequent tsunami.
HMAS Adelaide arrived in the Tongan capital of Nukualofa on 26 January to deliver more than 250 pallets of humanitarian and disaster relief stores. Embarked ADF and Republic of Fijis Military Forces personnel are working side-by-side supporting clean-up efforts on the island of Atata.
HMAS Supply departed its homeport of Sydney on 6 February with more than half a million litres of fuel and humanitarian and disaster relief stores. The 173-metre long Auxiliary Oiler is designed to re-supply other ships and is available to help sustain vessels from partner nations delivering assistance to the Government of Tonga.
Air support to Operation TONGA ASSIST 22 has included air reconnaissance to assess damage using P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft, while more than 119 tonnes of humanitarian and disaster relief stores have been delivered using C-17A Globemaster III and C-130J Hercules transport aircraft.
The volcanic eruption and tsunami that devastated Tonga more than a month ago has left it with a huge damage bill.
Thankfully, Australia has come to the country’s aid – including the Hunter – with a local foundation preparing to ship containers full of essentials there next month.
Originally from Gilgandra in the Central West, Adam joined the NBN News team in 2019.
He completed a Bachelor of Communications (Journalism) at Charles Sturt University, Bathurst.
He has previously worked in Dubbo and Port Macquarie.
