Six hundred Australian Defence Force personnel on board HMAS Adelaide will be deployed to Fiji’s hardest hit islands by Severe Tropical Cyclone Yasa from tomorrow.
The vessel arrived into the country at around 1pm today.
The Australian soldiers would work alongside its counter parts to establish temporary school facilities on Galoa Island that were heavily damaged by the cyclone.
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 on-going support and effort already on the ground.
Australia’s Defence Adviser to Fiji Colonel Rob Haertsch said the countries had a long-standing partnership.
“Just like we worked together following TC Winston, we will work together again to come back from the destruction TC Yasa brought with it just days before Christmas,” he said.
“We’ll never forget the immediate and effective response Fiji showed us through the Bula Force during the bushfires we endured early this year.
“We will be here to support Fiji as best we can through this difficult time.”
HMAS Adelaide carries specialised personnel, equipment and provisions, include:
- Four MRH-90 helicopters
- One MRH-90 helicopter
- Four landing craft and additional small boats
- Army Engineer and Construction teams from the 6th Engineer Support Regiment
- A primary health care team
- A Small Boat Platoon
Earlier update:
https://www.fijitimes.com/hmas-adelaide-to-assist-in-cyclone-relief-response-fiji-reinforces-covid-19-protocols/
