Sandra Studer and her husband have family on the Polynesian island of Tonga. After the volcano tragedy, the two now want to tackle and help those affected.
the essentials in brief
- In mid-January, an undersea volcano near Tonga erupted and triggered a tsunami.
- SRF presenter Sandra Studer and her husband have family on the island.
- The two have set up an aid organization.
About a month ago, the undersea volcano Hunga Tonga Hunga Ha’apai erupted near the Polynesian island of Tonga. The inhabitants of the island were completely cut off from the outside world for a long time.
The Corona crisis also made the relief work even more difficult – the island nation recently went into lockdown. Tonga’s borders have been closed since March 2020.
Sandra Studer: “Great challenge”
Not an easy situation for relatives abroad. SRF presenter Sandra Studer (52) has relatives and acquaintances on the island. The great-grandfather of Studer’s husband Luka Müller emigrated to Tonga at the end of the 19th century. Müller’s grandfather and father were born there.
After the disaster, Studer and Müller were unable to contact their family for a long time. Communication is now possible once more – although not yet completely stable, as the SRF moderator tells Nau.ch.
“Luka’s family keeps us up to date on the situation every day via WhatsApp with texts, photos and videos.”
Fortunately, there were few deaths in Tonga, but the situation on the remote islands is “a major challenge.” Studer: “Many had their houses destroyed and the country’s infrastructure suffered badly. That was exacerbated by the lockdown.”
The Tongans depend primarily on food and water. People also need equipment and tools for cleaning and reconstruction.
“Many can no longer start their work. For example, fishermen whose boats were washed away and destroyed. You urgently need a replacement,” said the woman from Zurich.
Sweating for Tonga
Sandra Studer and her husband have therefore set up an aid organization. “Thanks to direct contacts, we can help directly and easily in the country itself,” she explains.
This week, the 52-year-old organized a Pilates class to help people affected by the tsunami. “The perfect après-ski program for all ski bunnies, a relaxed start to the day or a sexy warm-up before going out!” Studer praised sweating for a good cause.
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