SOF02

Assignment 1: Short
Answers

Name: Zaid Kushaal Dean

Student ID: S11207407
Campus: Laucala
Date Submitted: 13 September 2022
1. The main theme of this article is about the tsunami that struck Tonga on January 15,
2022. The cause of the tsunami was the eruption of the Hunga-Tonga-Hunga-Ha’apai
volcano. The eruption of the volcano set off a chain reaction which led to tsunami
waves which measured up to 15m. The focus of this article is to highlight the
destruction and causalities caused by the tsunami and how it affected not only the
people of Tonga but also family members of Tongan citizens who lived abroad and
were extremely concerned for the safety and well-being of their family members. It
also highlights how various institutions came to Tonga’s aid. It also sparsely looks at
the increase in COVID-19 cases within Tonga during efforts to help Tonga overcome
the situation.

2. I personally view the theme of the article as a societal issue suffered by the people of
Tonga and its government as well. The tsunami caused tremendous damage to
Tonga’s entire infrastructure, including residential and non-residential buildings,
agriculture, forestry, and fishing, as well as damages caused by ashfall, an estimated
US$90.4M in damages (Tonga Volcanic Eruption and Tsunami: World Bank Disaster
Assessment Report Estimates Damages at US$90M, 2022). The reason this article
indicates a societal issue is because it clearly portrays how catastrophic this disaster
was for the people living in Tonga, with food and water supplies being affected and
the homes of many Tongans being swiped away by the tsunami. The society suffered
a double blow when attempts to provide aid resulted in a rapid increase in the overall
number of COVID-19 cases in Tonga (Tonga's COVID outbreak is growing rapidly
with omicron cases confirmed, 2022). The damage and effects of the disaster
primarily affected the people of Tonga. Hence, this article focuses mainly on the
privation suffered by Tongan society due to the volcanic eruption and tsunami.

3. The three social agents or institutions impacted by the severe effects of the volcanic
eruption and tsunami in Tonga are: Tonga Cable, Schools, and Families. Firstly, the
volcanic eruption severed the cable connection between Tonga and the rest of the
world, leaving Tonga completely isolated from the rest of the world. Restoration of
the cables could take up to several weeks. The Tonga cable company stated that
 preparations were underway for repair operations, although doing so could be a risk to
the repair ship as the volcanic activities were in proximity to the cables (Doherty and
McClure, 2022). Second, schools. The tsunami had a significant impact on schools
and the education of the children, with nearly every school suffering major damage or
destruction. The starting of schools was delayed, and many parents were worried
about their children’s safety and well-being when returning to schools. The impact
was not only physical but psychological as well, with children experiencing
symptoms of depression due to the trauma and losing interest in going to school (Faa,
2022). Finally, one of the major social institutions that were impacted by the effects of
the tsunami and volcanic eruption in Tonga was the families, who not only suffered
during the disaster but continued to experience suffering even after the disaster, with
many families left with no access to clean drinking water, food, shelter (Tongan
eruption: 85% of the population impacted government, 2022).

4. The social agents that helped Tonga deal with the natural disaster are Firstly, Tonga
Red Cross was quick to respond regarding providing aid to help the people of the
community, providing drinking water and temporary shelters as well as providing
other relief supplies to help the people of Tonga (Tonga: Aid ramped up after eruption
and tsunami | IFRC, 2022). Secondly, the World Bank provided Tonga with US$8
million in aid for humanitarian relief, clean up, rehabilitation, and reconstruction of
infrastructure to help support the families affected by the devasting effects of the
volcanic eruption and tsunami (World Bank Provides US$8 million to Support
Tonga’s Volcano and Tsunami Response, 2022). Finally, UNICEF responded to
Tonga’s urgent call for help Partnering with other relevant stakeholders, UNICEF was
able to provide water, tents, and sanitation and hygiene kits to help with not only the
devasting impact of the tsunami and volcanic eruption but to help Tonga prevent the
ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. (UNICEF ready to support families and children in the
aftermath of volcanic eruption and tsunami in Tonga, 2022).

5. Natural disasters often leave a devastating effect on their victims, and the severity of
the disaster is a major determiner of how the disaster will create social concerns
 within a society. It is crucial that these social concerns are addressed and prevented
within a community. Therefore, apply sociological imagination to a wider context.
The most concerning factor for those affected by natural disasters is the psychological
well-being of individuals. Firstly, a personal issue, a natural disaster has a subsequent
impact on an individual’s psychological well-being. One may feel that everything
around them is falling apart and they are losing everything they have had because of
the devastation caused by a natural disaster. This may lead to symptoms of
depression, loss of motivation, suicidal thoughts, stress, and so on. Moreover, from a
wider social perspective, the effects of the disaster may cause a wide societal issue of
violence amongst households and crime. It has been shown that individuals who
suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are more prone to acts of
aggression.

6. Implementing procedures such as: provision of mental health recovery plans;

educating the community about various safety measures; and providing physical
health recovery plans and guidance. Firstly, it has been shown that the distress caused
by such natural disasters can have tremendous effects on an individual’s mental
health, so it is crucial that the people of the Tongan community not only recover
physically but mentally as well. Secondly, a measure that can be used to alleviate the
problems caused by the disaster is to educate members of the community on how they
can provide safety for their families. Educating members of the community on safety
measures is crucial for Tonga’s recovery. Lastly, providing the people of Tonga with
a physical health recovery plan is important to ensure their well-being. This could be
done through providing check-ups and the resources necessary to ensure recovery
from not only the disaster but also from the rise of COVID-19 cases in Tonga after the
disaster.
Bibliography:
2022. [online] Available at:
<https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/press-release/2022/02/14/tonga-volcanic-eruption-and-
tsunami-world-bank-disaster-assessment-report-estimates-damages-at-us-90m> [Accessed 13
September 2022].

Doherty, B. and McClure, T., 2022. Tonga could be cut off for weeks amid efforts to repair
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Faa, M., 2022. Teachers and parents called to help clean up Tongan schools after volcanic
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RNZ. 2022. Tongan eruption: 85% of the population impacted - government. [online]
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Unicef.org. 2022. UNICEF ready to support families and children in the aftermath of
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<https://www.unicef.org/press-releases/unicef-ready-support-families-and-children-
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