The ADF deployment to Fiji under Operation FIJI ASSIST will transition to a new phase as Australia's efforts in supporting the devastated country move from response to recovery in the wake of TC Winston.
The LHD HMAS Canberra has successfully completed its first operational deployment and departed Fiji on Friday. ADF command and engineering personnel, vehicles and helicopters will remain in Fiji to conduct assessment activities and deliver assistance.
Defence force personnel removed debris, restored critical infrastructure, supplied fresh drinking water and delivered lifesaving supplies to the islands of Koro and Taveuni.
A spokesperson from the Australian High Commission confirmed to the Fiji Sun the work that had been carried out on the two islands.
“Schools on [Koro] island have reopened on March 14,” the spokesperson said, referring to the six primary and one high school that had been repaired.
Repairs, he said, were made to classrooms, toilets were fixed, water connections restored and electricity wiring fixed.
The ADF completed a total of 52 engineering tasks on the island including the provision of power to four villages, water facilities to 700 people, construction of a large number of temporary shelters, repairs to plumbing and drainage, and assessing and repairing two medical centres.
An LCM-1E Landing Craft approaches HMAS Canberra off the coast of Koro Island, Fiji. Credit: Defence
They also assisted with debris clearance which enabled the Republic of Military Forces (RFMF) to establish temporary shelters using reclaimed timber, roofing iron and tarps.
The ADF also delivered essential humanitarian supplies to Koro Island which had been provided by the Australian Government over the last few weeks. This included:
- 1156 Tarps;
- 910 Hygiene Packs;
- 650 Shelter Kits;
- 27,227 Food Packs;
- 1350 sleeping mats;
- 432 bed nets;
- 216 kitchen kits;
- 64,000 aqua tabs (for water purification);
- 40 Oxfam buckets; and
- 312 tents.
On Taveuni, the support consisted principally of the supply of building materials to aid in the reconstruction effort.
The building supplies delivered included:
- 400 Sheets Corrugated Iron Roofing;
- over 4000 linear metres of Structural Timber;
- 267 sheets of Plywood/Fibro;
- 6 x 5000L Water Tanks.
The ADF also facilitated the delivery 50 ShelterBox family tents from Suva to Taveuni by air.