Australia’s largest naval ship arrives in Fiji
Fijian Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama asked for help with rebuilding TC Yasa affected schools and Australia responded by sending their largest ship which has anchored off of Vanua Levu with 600 troops.
The HMAS Adelaide which arrived in Fiji last night is this evening anchored close to Nabouwalu, Fiji’s main port of entry into the northern provinces of Cakaudrove, Bua and Macuata.
Aboard the fully self sufficient vessel are 600 members of the Australian Defense Force with equipment and provisions so it can as the Australian High Commissioner John Feakes put it, “be able to sit offshore and support the immediate response, without needing to draw on scarce local water and food supplies.”
“Australia’s largest ship, HMAS Adelaide, arrived in Fiji after its six-day sail to Fiji’s hardest-hit northern islands following the destructive TC Yasa,” a statement from the Australian High Commission (AHC) in Fiji said.
“Given the specific request, the Australian Defence Force (ADF) deployed a diverse team including members of the 6th Engineer Support Regiment along with logistics and support functions within HMAS Adelaide to augment the RFMF’s ongoing support and effort already on the ground.”
The ADF will begin work tomorrow with counterparts from the Republic of Fiji Military Forces with whom they will form a quarantine bubble for the remainder of the Tropical Cyclone Yasa response.
Meanwhile, the Fiji Ministry of Health and Medical Services have today announced three new border cases of COVID19; a 32 year old male and a 32 year old female who arrived on flight GA8250 from New Delhi and a 34 year old female who had travelled from England via Hong Kong. All three arrived in Fiji on December 21.
The vessel carries four MRH-90 helicopters, one MRH-90 helicopter, four landing craft and additional small boats which will be used to carry construction materials and engineers to Bua.
In direct response to a request from Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama’s request, the Australian forces will specifically work to rebuild schools in preparation for the start of the new school years on January 18, 2021.
“From tomorrow, HMAS Adelaide personnel will commence working alongside the Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF) to establish temporary school facilities on Galoa Island that were heavily damaged during the Cat-5 cyclone,” the AHC said..
Meanwhile recovery and rehabilitation efforts continue in Fiji’s cyclone battered northern and eastern provinces with more than 400 families still sheltered in evacuation centers.
Government teams have worked closely with Fiji’s biggest non-government organization Fiji Council of Social Services to coordinate relief and conduct Initial Damage Assessment (IDA).
“I’m heartened by the efforts of local communities to help out where they can in terms of food, water, clothing,” FCOSS executive director Vani Catanasiga said.
