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The New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) said Thursday it was ready to ramp up its forces on the ground to Fiji to help the island nation rebuild after Tropical Cyclone Winston.
Thirty-seven NZDF engineers arrived in Suva Wednesday to work alongside the Fijian military in supporting devastated communities.
"The government of Fiji has requested our assistance in a range of tasks including clearing roads, assisting schools to reopen and constructing emergency shelters," Major General Tim Gall, Commander Joint Forces New Zealand, said in a statement.
"Very few homes in the outlying islands survived the ferocity of Cyclone Winston last weekend, and thousands of people remain in emergency shelters," Tim Gall said.
The engineers would also help Fiji authorities assess damage to property and other infrastructure.
The NZDF was ready to deploy an additional 150 New Zealand Army engineers, drivers, sappers and medics with multi-role naval vessel HMNZS Canterbury to assist in Fiji's disaster relief efforts.
Aerial surveillance by a New Zealand air force P-3K2 Orion aircraft had identified major property damage on the islands of Taveuni, Koro, and Lau, situated north of the capital Suva, and the northern coast of Viti Levu, Fiji's main island.
The Orion had flown Fiji government officials over the cyclone- ravaged areas.
A New Zealand air force C-130 Hercules aircraft also delivered an additional 16 tonnes of emergency relief supplies on Wednesday.
The New Zealand government has given more than 2 million NZ dollars (1.33 million U.S. dollars) to help with relief efforts so far.
Tropical Cyclone Winston killed at least 42 people. m
