HMAS Adelaide and 600 pers head to Fiji

On Thursday 24 December 2020, more than 600 Australian Defence Force personnel boarded HMAS Adelaide and headed for Fiji.

CAPTION: Australian Army soldiers from 6th, 7th, 16th and 17th Brigades board HMAS Adelaide at Port of Brisbane, before they deploy to Fiji tp provide humanitarian assistance and disaster relief. Photo by Corporal Dustin Anderson.

Their mission was to deploy on HMAS Adelaide for Operation Fiji Assist following Tropical Cyclone Yasa.

The Fiji government requested the disaster relief in response to the category 5 Tropical Cyclone Yasa.

ADF elements will be working with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFaT) to support the Republic of Fiji Military Forces in providing assistance to thousands of Fijians, including many from remote islands whose homes, schools and other local infrastructure were damaged or destroyed by the cyclone.

Adelaide will carry personnel and equipment to best complement the relief efforts led by the Fijian Government. Humanitarian assistance and disaster relief will be undertaken in accordance with COVIDSafe measures to ensure the safety of the Fijian people.

Adelaide is expected to arrive in Fiji this week.

HMAS Adelaide is the second of two Canberra-class amphibious assault ships, the largest ships ever built for the Royal Australian Navy.

Operation Fiji Assist is expected to last about a month.

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