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New Zealand navy resupplies Fiji's cyclone-battered outer islands

Xinhua, March 16, 2016 Adjust font size:

The New Zealand navy is to deliver a second shipload of emergency supplies to the cyclone-battered northern islands of Fiji, the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) said Wednesday.

The multi-role vessel HMNZS Canterbury had returned to Suva to load more emergency supplies for Fiji's northern outer islands, Commander Simon Rooke said in a statement.

Fifteen tonnes of construction materials and 9 tonnes of food were loaded for distribution in the northern Lau archipelago, while 15 staff from Fiji government agencies also embarked.

"Returning to Suva has enabled us to pick up more supplies for villages on Vanuabalavu Island, including materials for the rebuilding that is underway there, as well as work that will begin on Yacata Island," Rooke said.

Commanding Officer of the Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief Task Unit, Major Chris Wilson said eight combat engineers from the NZDF and three from the Republic of Fiji Military Forces formed part of a 16-person reconstruction team that would be based at Yacata from Thursday to support rebuilding on the island over the next 10 days.

"Our priorities at Yacata will include construction work on a school, a medical centre and the water reticulation system," Wilson said in the statement.

Meanwhile, offshore patrol vessel HMNZS Wellington was heading back to New Zealand after operating for almost three weeks in the northern Lau archipelago.

The ship had delivered around 70 tonnes of aid supplies from New Zealand to affected communities on Vanuabalavu, Yacata, and other islands in the area.

The aid supplies delivered included food, bottled water, medical equipment and tree saplings.

The Canterbury first arrived in Suva on March 3 with 106 tonnes of aid supplies from New Zealand.

The ship had been anchored off Lomaloma, the main village on Vanuabalavu, and is serving as the maritime base for the NZDF's humanitarian aid operation in the northern outlying islands.

Almost 300 NZDF combat engineers and naval personnel and 13 members from the New Zealand Fire Service Urban Search and Rescue team were supporting the rebuilding at Lomaloma.

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