Australian Forces complete work on Tanna and Erromango

The Australian forces on board the HMAS Tobruk who were assisting with cyclone relief distribution and reconstruction work on Tanna and Erromango in Tafea Province over the last week have completed their task and are now back in Port Vila ready for their next tasking.

The Captain of the HMAS Tobruk, Commander Lief Maxfield is happy with the work they have been able to do. He told a press conference with a local media contingent soon after the vessel berthed at the main Wharf Tuesday morning that over the last 6 or 7 days they had been quite busy on Tanna and around Erromango.

“We’ve been surveying a number of areas to see where we would be able to put forces ashore to be able to support the distribution of relief and reconstruction effort,” Commander Maxfield said.

“We’ve been delivering Australian-provided aid stores and we’ve delivered a large proportion of that towards Dillon’s Bay and Happy Land areas in Erromango.”

He said on Tanna they went to Lenakel, up to northwest and down to Waisisi looking at the best place to support.

Captain Maxfield said they were able to distribute a significant package of aid stores on board the ship that they came with from Australia.

“We’ve delivered enough aid for 2,000 people, about 4,500 family units, who were given tarpaulins, hygiene and tool kits that would certainly make a significant impact in those communities,” he added.

He described the level of devastation on Tanna and Erromango as “quite extremely”, but he said from those who went shore the resilience of Vanuatu people was quite apparent.

Captain Maxfield said aerial delivery using the ship’s helicopter and amphibious vehicles were able to be used to deliver stores on both islands and on Erromango, supplies were unloaded in Dillon’s Bay where they were able to support NGOs with their distribution efforts.

He added that the experience has been extremely rewarding for the ship’s crew, army and engineers “to be here to assist the wonderful people of Vanuatu”.

In a statement from the Australian High Commission in Port Vila, it was reported that on West Tanna in Tafea Province, Australian aid support for Vanuatu continued with the arrival of HMAS Tobruk.

It says that loaded with military engineers, plant equipment and humanitarian aid, Tobruk’s presence brought relief to the people of one of the islands hardest hit by Category 5 Tropical Cyclone Pam.

HMAS Tobruk arrived at Tanna on March 25 and transferred personnel and equipment ashore using two embarked Army LCM-8 landing craft and a Navy MRH90 helicopter once bad weather clears.

Meanwhile, ADF aircraft continued to shuttle personnel and stores within Vanuatu.

ADF support to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade-led relief effort is being conducted under Operation PACIFIC ASSIST 2015 through the 500-strong Joint Task Force 665 (JTF665).

Commander JTF665 Captain Jay Bannister RAN said the overall effort so far has been significant.

“Despite the challenges involved in sustained natural disaster response, I am extremely proud of the way the men and women of the ADF have responded to help one of our closest neighbours and dearest friends,” Capt Bannister said.

“We will continue to work tirelessly with our French and New Zealand partners to provide aid and recovery response to those most in need.”

Australian engineers and advance parties on Tanna conducted beach surveys to locate suitable amphibious landing zones, as well clearing routes for vehicle mobility.

“We delivered aid to the island of Erromango using the MRH90 helicopter embarked on HMAS Tobruk and by S-70 Black Hawks to Anatom,” Capt Bannister said.

“Our main priority is to help improve the lives of those who are doing it tough, as quickly as we can.”

The ADF has so far delivered over 145 pallets of cargo to Vanuatu since the start of the operation.

Two Army S-70 Black Hawk helicopters and a RAAF King Air are providing tactical transport of personnel and stores to outlying areas from Port Vila, while RAAF C-17A Globemaster and C-130J Hercules transport aircraft are continuing to provide airlift between Australia and Vanuatu.