New Zealand steps up aid to support cyclone-battered Fiji

New Zealand Foreign Minister Murrary McCully on Tuesday pledged his government's support in rebuilding cyclone-ravaged Fiji after a visit to discuss the Pacific island nation's needs.

The New Zealand government would give a further 1.5 million NZ dollars (990,750 U.S. dollars) to Fiji as it recovers from Cyclone Winston, taking its total support to over 4.7 million NZ dollars (3.1 million U.S. dollars).

"The devastation caused by Cyclone Winston is very serious. Nearly 55,000 people remain in evacuation centers and the people of Fiji now face the difficult task of rebuilding their lives," McCully said in a statement.

"While humanitarian relief operations are continuing, the response is starting to move into the recovery phase, with a focus on restoring infrastructure such as electricity, water and transport," he said.

The latest financial aid would help repair power lines and infrastructure in some of the worse affected areas, and fund additional relief supplies and technical support.

New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) C-130 aircraft were continuing to deliver relief supplies and navy multi-role vessel HMNZS Canterbury would arrive in Fiji Wednesday to join offshore patrol vessel HMNZS Wellington in the Northern Lau group by the end of the week.

"New Zealand will support the Fiji government as it works to recover from Cyclone Winston and we are currently developing a wider package of support focused on helping affected communities rebuild," McCully said.

On Monday, the NZDF said its contribution to the relief and recovery effort in Fiji was one of its largest ever peacetime deployments in the Pacific.

Almost 500 combat engineers, soldiers, sailors and aircrew had been deployed for the humanitarian aid operation.

The cyclone, which struck last month, killed at least 43 people. Endit