After the Waves
How cash transfers helped Tongan families rebuild their lives
Tears welled in Temalisi Fukofuka’s eyes as she recounted the day her family lost everything to the 2022 volcanic eruption and tsunami in Tonga. “Our house and our tapa trees were completely destroyed,” she said. “For many months after the disaster, our children had trouble sleeping and had nightmares of that day.”
The twin disasters—triggered by the Hunga Tonga–Hunga Haʻapai eruption—devastated communities across Tonga, displacing families, destroying homes, and cutting off access to clean water and livelihoods. In response, UNICEF partnered with the Ministry of Internal Affairs to deliver humanitarian cash transfers to 750 affected households across Tongatapu, Eua, and Ha’apai. These funds became a lifeline for families like Temalisi’s, helping them rebuild their lives and restore a sense of normalcy.
For Temalisi and her family, the disaster struck at the heart of their livelihood. Their main source of income—tapa making and selling handicrafts—was wiped out when the eruption and tsunami destroyed their home and the tapa trees they relied on. “We had nothing left,” she said. “No home, no income, and no clean water.” The trauma lingered long after the waves receded. Her children, once carefree, were haunted by nightmares and fear.
The UNICEF humanitarian cash transfer helped the family meet their immediate needs—food, drinking water, and basic supplies. More importantly, it gave them the means to begin again. With the support, they were able to plow land and replant their tapa trees, taking the first steps toward rebuilding their livelihood and restoring a sense of stability.
In the village of Kanokupolu on Tongatapu, Kaufoou Taukeiaho’s family faced a similar ordeal. “We ran with nothing but our children,” she recalled, her voice trembling. The tsunami waves brought debris crashing into their home, destroying everything. With her husband unemployed and their water sources contaminated, the family struggled to survive. After their identities were verified—no small feat after losing their IDs—they received UNICEF’s cash assistance. “The cash assistance let us buy food, drinking water and fix our house,” said Kaufoou, gesturing toward their repaired home.
On the island of Atata, Vika Makaholia vividly remembers the terrifying moment the waves struck. Her children had been playing in the sea when the tsunami hit. She rushed them to safety as their home and all their belongings were swept away. Vika’s family, among 42 from Atata permanently relocated to Tongatapu, relied on the humanitarian cash transfer to meet basic needs in the aftermath. Today, they live in a government-provided one-bedroom home and run a community canteen, where they also selling handicrafts to earn a living.
For 70-year-old Eleni Via, the trauma of that day remains fresh. She and her family clung to trees as the waves destroyed their home and farm. Though no lives were lost, the emotional toll was immense—especially on her three young grandchildren. “Living on Tongatapu is very expensive and different from Atata island where everything was free,” she said. Yet, she remains grateful for the support. The cash transfer helped her family survive the difficult months that followed. Now, she sells handicrafts and homemade sweets to make ends meet.
Three years on, life in Tonga is slowly returning to normal, but the scars of the 2022 disaster remain. Many families continue to grapple with the trauma, prompting UNICEF and the Ministry of Internal Affairs to launch psychosocial support programmes across Tongatapu and the outer islands.
The humanitarian cash transfer programme proved vital in helping families recover, particularly those with children and people with disabilities. However, the experience also highlighted the need to strengthen Tonga’s social protection systems—especially through digital platforms that can speed up beneficiary identification and cash disbursement in future crises.
In a region where nearly 40 per cent of children are at risk of falling below the poverty line, UNICEF remains committed to supporting vulnerable families across the Pacific. Their Our work continues to focus on improving access to social protection, education, health, and essential services for children and adolescents—ensuring that no child is left behind in the face of disaster.
