New Zealand air force brings relief supplies to cyclone-stricken Vanuatu

A New Zealand air force transport aircraft has arrived in Vanuatu Sunday with New Zealand' s first consignment of aid for the cyclone-stricken Pacific island nation, the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) said Sunday.

The C-130 Hercules was carrying first aids kits, tarpaulins for emergency shelter, water containers, chainsaw packs and generators, said a statement from the NZDF.

Specialist personnel from New Zealand government agencies and the New Zealand Red Cross were also aboard to help carry out a needs assessment that will shape further assistance in the wake of Tropical Cyclone Pam.

Head of air force operations Air Commodore Kevin McEvoy said the consignment would make a real difference with Vanuatu's main airport still closed to civilian aircraft.

"The C-130 Hercules is an ideal platform for operating into areas that may not be accessible to commercial aircraft," McEvoy said in the statement.

A New Zealand air force P-3K2 Orion returned home Sunday after providing aerial reconnaissance support to assist with Tuvalu's disaster needs assessment, said McEvoy.

New Zealand Foreign Minister Murray McCully said Saturday that the New Zealand government would give an initial contribution of 1 million NZ dollars (734,592 U.S. dollars) to assist Pacific nations hit by Cyclone Pam.

Funding included 200,000 NZ dollars (146,918 U.S. dollars) to respond to specific requests for assistance in Vanuatu, Fiji, Tuvalu and Solomon Islands, and 400,000 NZ dollars (293,837 U.S. dollars) for non-governmental organizations in Vanuatu and Solomon Islands to replenish relief supplies. Endi