French aid arrives in Tanna Photo: French government
Following the devastation of two Tropical Cyclones in Vanuatu, France has sent humanitarian aid from New Caledonia to help.
The New Caledonian Army Forces were quick to act, sending a patrol plane last Friday to look at the extent of the damage in Vanuatu.
On Sunday the territory's forces arrived on the cargo ship D'Entrecasteaux in the capital Port Vila.
A supply ship is also delivering supplies from Port Vila to Tanna and other islands.
The ship will assist in road clearance, provide drinking water and give medical response.
General of the Army Forces of New Caledonia Valerie Putz says the structural damage on Tanna Island has been fairly minimal.
"I know that Vanuatu authorities have expressed their concerns with power outages but it seems to have been put back in place. Water supply was a concern as well.
"There is one French army detachment of engineers who are in Tanna to restore the viability of the roads.
"There is also one helicopter that was deployed last night (Tuesday), ready to offer transport help to Vanuatuan authorities or to have a damage assessment of other islands in Vanuatu."
On board the ship, launched from New Caledonia, were four tonnes of humanitarian material, two four-wheel drive military vehicles, a rescue team from the territory's civil security, and military personnel.
A fresh water commercial company has donated eight fresh water tanks as part of the cargo.
The operation was launched by the New Caledonian High Commission.
Putz said there has been great cooperation between both New Zealand and Australian defence forces.
"There is also a deep co-ordination between the New Zealand Defence Force and the Australian defence force which has been led under France's diplomatic mechanism of co-ordination.
"At a ground level, the Australian and New Zealand forces use the French ship to bring humanitarian resources to Tanna Island."
French soldiers in Vanuatu to help the recovery effort Photo: French Army
Meanwhile, the HMAS Canberra was due to arrive by Thursday morning with more than 600 Australian Defence Force personnel on board along with humanitarian supplies.
According to the ABC, a small Australian rapid assistance team is already in the country and Australian aircraft are conducting aerial surveillance of the worst-affected areas.
Coordinator Barnaby Caddy said the rapid assessment team comprised 12 members skilled in humanitarian and damage assessment, hazardous materials, power, health and infrastructure.
New Zealand assistance
New Zealand's Foreign Affairs Minister Nanaia Mahuta announced that a Royal New Zealand Air Force C-130 Hercules had departed on Sunday morning carrying relief supplies, including water containers, kits for temporary shelters, and family hygiene kits.
"A seven member team of disaster management experts from Fire and Emergency New Zealand's Urban Search and Rescue, the New Zealand Defence Force and MFAT is being deployed to assist with the response," Mahuta said.
"This initial package of assistance includes a financial contribution of $NZ150,000 to allow the New Zealand High Commission to respond rapidly to requests from the Government of Vanuatu."