Emergency supplies off to Tongareva
Cabinet is to meet Friday morning for a briefing from the Minister of Finance, Hon Wilke Rasmussen who is also MP for Penrhyn on the disaster situation on that island.
The New Zealand Air Force Hercules aircraft arrived in Rarotonga on Thursday night in order to fly emergency supplies and essential equipment to the stricken island of Penrhyn. The island was pummeled by tropical storm 11F earlier this week and 11F has since moved south towards Palmerston island and intensified to become category 2 Cyclone Sarah. It was the second violent storm to hit Penrhyn inside a month the other being Cyclone Nisha.
The aircraft arrived loaded with basic essentials such as tarpaulin and chainsaws, water containers, candles, kitchen kits and other essentials.
Supplies from Rarotonga will include a limited amount of timber and iron roofing to try and patch up the roofing lost from the occupied buildings damaged in Omoka. Also on board will be telecommunications equipment in order to re-establish communication links with Penrhyn. The Hercules flies to Penrhyn later today, Friday 26 February.
However, excess weight is an issue with the cargo approaching maximum loading for the Hercules, so the passengers will likely be restricted to the Minister of Finance, Hon Wilke Rasmussen and a representative from the New Zealand High Commission although a number of other personnel are on standby to join the flight, if possible.
The Minister is travelling in his capacity as National Coordinator for the relief efforts in the Cook Islands and wishes to express his gratitude to the New Zealand Government for their assistance in sending the Hercules and supplies. The appreciation extends to all the partners such as Red Cross involved in the relief efforts for the island as well as to the Mayor of the island and all the people. Minister Rasmussen is also the MP for the island of Penrhyn and the welfare of the people on his home island is of great importance to him personally as well as in his official capacity in Cabinet.
