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Source: ONE News -
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Aid is starting to arrive in the cyclone ravaged areas of Fiji with New Zealand helping by giving more than $1 million.
Cyclone Tomas tore through Fijian's northern islands and the worst hit areas are now surveying the damage.
A New Zealand Air Force Hercules is currently in the air over Labasa surveying the worst hit areas and delivering supplies.
The New Zealand Defence Force is delivering supplies for almost 5,000 stranded Fijians.
"Fijian administration asked for assistance, we offered and they came back accepting the capacity of our plane to land on Fijian soil," says Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully.
It is the first military plane to land on Fijian soil since Frank Bainamorana's coup almost four years ago.
"This is a humanitarian situation, we've got to treat it entirely on that basis," says McCully.
The Australian government is also pitching in sending a Gercules loaded with medical and emergency shelter.
Navy boats will ship the aid to the remote northern islands who were the hardest hit and most in need.
The winds which reached up to 175 kph knocked out phone lines cutting villages off from the outside world.
Trees snapped like twigs, one woman was swept out to sea in a huge tide and a 30 day state of emergency was declared.
Cyclone Tomas is now moving south and while the immediate threat may have left there are other potential dangers.
Around 18,000 Fijians have been living out of make-shift homes and authorities concerns now turn to disease.
"The risk is there because of the typhoid outbreak we had in this region in the past two weeks," says Vuli Gauna from the Fiji Red Cross.
While it may take days to determine the full extent of damage and loss Fijians are welcoming New Zealand's help as they begin to pick up the pieces.
