Humanitarian supplies

A Royal New Zealand Air Force C-130 Hercules will depart this morning from Whenuapai carrying relief supplies, including water containers, kits for temporary shelters, and family hygiene kits.

Cyclones Judy and Kevin damaged homes, livelihoods, infrastructure and caused the loss of communications in some areas. The full extent of the impact of the cyclones is still to be assessed,” Nanaia Mahuta said in a statement released today.

The items include medical supplies, shelter, hygiene and household kits, bed nets, solar lights, birthing kits and water buckets.

Australia has already committed over 300 million vatu to the Government of Vanuatu’s Tropical Cyclone Harold response.

In addition to the provision of humanitarian supplies, Australia is also supporting other sectors such as health, education and policing.

A Casa air force plane carried a consignment of kits for those made homeless by last week's category five storm which ravaged the central islands of Pentecost, Espiritu Santo and Ambae.

According to the Vanuatu Red Cross, most people in the disaster zone have lost their homes.

The kits were made up of tents, basic kitchen items which had been held in stock by the Red Cross in Noumea as part of the emergency support provided by France, Australia and New Zealand.