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New Zealand military steps up aid operation in cyclone-battered Fiji

Xinhua, March 3, 2016 Adjust font size:

Almost 300 New Zealand military personnel have arrived in cyclone-ravaged Fiji with much needed relief supplies, the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) said Thursday.

The NZDF humanitarian aid operation was in full swing with the arrival of multi-role naval vessel HMNZS Canterbury carrying 106 tonnes of emergency supplies, said Colonel Glenn King, commander of the task group in Fiji.

"Canterbury will serve as the maritime base for New Zealand's post-disaster recovery operations in Fiji's northern outer islands," King said in a statement.

"We work to the Fiji government's priorities and their request to us is to get food, water and shelter to the disaster-struck remote communities in the northern outlying islands."

Commander Simon Rooke, commanding officer of the Canterbury, said the ship would sail later Thursday to the northern Lau group of islands after disembarking two New Zealand air force NH90 helicopters, loading additional aid supplies.

It would also take 20 Fijian military engineers and 20 staff from Fiji's Ministry of Education, who would assess the state of schools in the remote islands.

The ship was capable of producing up to 50,000 litres of drinking water per day and sustaining 366 people at sea for 30 days, Rooke said in the statement.

The NH90 helicopters, which were on their first operational deployment overseas, would help deliver essential supplies to remote communities in Fiji's northern islands.

The Canterbury was loaded with supplies, including building materials, water storage tanks, food, water and medical supplies.

King said no end-date for the NZDF deployment to Fiji had been decided yet.

"We have people on the ground working with the Republic of Fiji Military Forces in assessing the scale of the devastation caused by the cyclone, clearing roads and repairing schools and community buildings smashed by the powerful storm," he said

Close to 500 combat engineers, soldiers, sailors and aircrew have been deployed for the humanitarian operation, making it one of the NZDF's largest peacetime deployments to the Pacific.

Offshore naval patrol vessel HMNZS Wellington sailed to the northern Lau islands on Sunday to deliver around 60 tonnes of aid supplies and identify beaches suitable for the Canterbury's landing craft operations.

Tropical Cyclone Winston, which struck last month, killed at least 43 people and left thousands living in evacuation centers. Endit