24/01/2022 (Agence Europe) – The EU is sending 30 tonnes of aid to Tonga following the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai volcanic eruption and tsunami in the South Pacific, the European Commission announced on Saturday 22 January. In response to a request for assistance from the EU’s Civil Protection Mechanism, France offered, among other things, two water purification units, 4,000 litres of drinking water, hygiene kits, family tents, tool kits, ropes, jerry cans and tins. A first ship left on Saturday from French Polynesia. Transport costs are covered at 75% by the European Commission. The Commission also released €200,000 in emergency humanitarian aid for the Red Cross, and satellite images from the Copernicus programme were provided to locate the destruction in the devastated archipelago. This is initial assistance. (AN)