Australia providing $4.5 million in humanitarian relief

$4.5 million in humanitarian relief is being provided by the Australian government to support the people of Fiji in response to the devastation caused by Tropical Cyclone Yasa.

Australia’s $4.5 million package will include humanitarian relief supplies such as building materials, tents, medical supplies, solar lighting and hygiene kits.

It also includes education supplies to enable children to return to school and support for international and local NGOs and the Fiji Red Cross to aid their work with affected communities.

One of Australia's largest Navy ships, the HMAS Adelaide will also be deployed to provide immediate assistance to thousands of Fijians, including many from remote islands, whose homes, schools and other local infrastructure were damaged or destroyed by the category 5 cyclone.

Australia's Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Women, Marise Payne says HMAS Adelaide will leave Brisbane today and is expected to arrive in Fiji next week.

Minister for Defence, Linda Reynolds says the HMAS Adelaide will carry personnel and equipment to best complement the relief efforts led by the Government of Fiji.

She says members from the Australian Army’s 6th Engineering Support Regiment from Brisbane will assist Fijian authorities to clear debris, and repair critical infrastructure and schools.

The Australian government has already sent emergency humanitarian supplies to Fiji on two RAAF C-17A Globemaster flights in the immediate aftermath of the cyclone.

[image: Australia in Fiji/Facebook]

Two RAAF P-8A Poseidon aerial assessment missions have also provided the Fijian Government with an early picture of the scale of the damage caused by TC Yasa in remote locations.

Imagery from the P-8A has been provided to the Fijian Government.

Supplies replenished by the Australian Government following Tropical Cyclone Harold earlier this year are already being distributed to some of the hardest-hit areas of Vanua Levu.