A radiothon will be held today in Rarotonga to support tsunami-hit Tonga amid water and food shortage.

In support of the relief effort for Tonga since the eruption of the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai volcano causing tsunami last Friday, the Cook Islands Red Cross Society is hosting a radiothon today from 12pm-6pm on Radio Cook Islands, 101FM.

Thousands of people in Tonga have been displaced from their homes and are in need of food supplies, fresh water and shelter following the tsunami trigged by the volcano.

Any donation is greatly appreciated, and all funds will be forwarded to the Tongan Red Cross, who will distribute it to families throughout the islands. To pledge your donations, call 20100 or 20101.

Yesterday, Tina Riki still had no news of her Tonga based daughter Makaia, her partner and family since last week and hopes to make contact as soon as possible this weekend.

Late on Friday night, Tina had heard “a big hollow like sound” from her unit in Muri.

“I had no idea what is was and thought nothing of it…” she told the newspaper earlier this week. Until the next day on Saturday when her eldest son Jared called from London with the news of the volcanic eruption in Tonga. “I was shocked, I thought oh no…that’s what that big noise was.”

“I’m worried if Makaia’s okay, her partner and his family, and not being able to communicate with her is the hardest part, not being able to talk to her.”

Cook Islands Red Cross would like to acknowledge and thank the community for their support and concern.

The secretary general of Cook Islands Red Cross Society, Fine Tu'itupou-Arnold who is Tongan earlier explained that because Tonga is so flat, they are used to having tsunami warnings.

United Nations spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said in a briefing that Tonga has asked for urgent assistance and the agency is in close contact with the authorities.

“Assessment teams have reached most parts of the country, including remote and isolated islands,” Dujarric said.

“We remain seriously concerned about access to safe water for 50,000 people throughout the country. Water quality testing continues, and most people are relying on bottled water,” he said.

• Additional report by Aljazeera