The New Zealand Defence Force has delivered more than three tonnes of textbooks to Fiji high schools, which were damaged by last year's category-five Cyclone Winston.
Flight Lieutenant Kendall Dooley, the captain of the Royal New Zealand Air Force hands over the textbooks to Merewalesi Vueti, the Director of Library Services in Fiji’s Ministry of Education, as New Zealand High Commissioner to Fiji Mark Ramsden (left) looks on. Photo: Supplied/ New Zealand High Commission, Fiji
An Air Force Hercules aircraft flew over almost 11,000 donated books, which included English, maths, chemistry, physics and biology textbooks, for Year 10 to 13 students.
Air Commodore Darryn Webb said Fiji was a close neighbour of New Zealand's and the Defence Force is always ready to assist the country in emergency situations.
The Fiji Association in Auckland donated the books to Fiji's Ministry of Education for cyclone-damaged schools.
Crew from a Royal New Zealand Air Force C-130 Hercules aircraft begin to unload the estimated three tonnes of textbooks donated to Fiji’s cyclone-damaged schools. Photo: Supplied/ New Zealand High Commission, Fiji
The books will help restock many school libraries in Fiji's two main islands of Viti Levu and Vanua Levu.
The Defence Force conducted a seven-week humanitarian mission to Fiji in the aftermath of Cyclone Winston, which caused widespread destruction.