NEW ZEALAND

RESPONSE TO HADR RESPONSE TO HADR

EVENTS IN THE EVENTS IN THE

PACIFICPACIFIC

FRANZ ARRANGEMENT

FRance, Australia and New Zealand

In 1992, signed a joint statement on disaster relief cooperation in the South Pacific

Purpose is to exchange information and coordinate support in the event of a natural disaster

RESPONSE MECHANISMS FRANZ responds to a Government

request Aim is to support the host country’s own

response mechanisms – usually the National Disaster Management Office (NDMO)

The scope of the disaster, and therefore the need, is often difficult to assess quickly

IMMEDIATE RESPONSE Australia and New Zealand responded

quickly to Samoa, with C130s despatched late 30 Sep with relief supplies and specialist medical teams

1 Oct first RNZAF Iroquois helicopter transported to Samoa by C130

Reports from Tonga advised Tonga Defence Services were leading the Tongan response

CONCURRENT DISASTERS On 1 Oct a 7.9 magnitude earthquake

occurred off Sumatra

Australian medical teams remained in Samoa, but Australian efforts were redirected to Indonesia

France agreed to support Tonga, and despatched relief stores and personnel to Nuku'alofa. FNS RIVA transported them to Niuatoputapu

Contributions to Relief Phase

NZ contributed air and sealift assets, relief supplies, reconstruction stores and personnel from 7 Government Departments

France contributed air and sealift, medical support and relief supplies

Australia contributed relief supplies, airlift and emergency surgical and medical teams

CONSIDERATIONS FRANZ will respond once asked

Pacific nations – proud and working hard to be self-sufficient

Host country must lead and be seen to lead the response

OPERATION TSUNAMI

Relief efforts must not overwhelm the Government

Aid providers (including NGOs) must respond to local priorities and tasking

Be sensitive to and observe cultural sensitivities

OPERATION TSUNAMI

Questions?