The Australian Army and Vanuatu Police Force have completed Exercise Vanuatu Alliance, an annual humanitarian and disaster relief exercise conducted under our thirty year Defence Cooperation Program.
Australian Army and Vanuatu Police Force personnel worked together to build collective readiness to respond to future natural disasters in the Pacific region as well as Vanuatu's humanitarian and disaster response capability.
Minister for Defence, Senator the Hon Linda Reynolds CSC said the exercise further deepened the close working relationships and strong people-to-people links between the Australian Army and the Vanuatu Police Force.
"This Exercise is an important opportunity to share knowledge and expertise as well as practice humanitarian and disaster relief responses," Minister Reynolds said.
"Our forces worked side by side to plan and respond to a three-day simulated natural disaster scenario, with Australian Army teams providing mentoring in logistics, first air and rescue techniques throughout the exercise."
The Army's small watercraft, the LCM-8, currently used in amphibious operations to transport people and supplies, was used to support the Vanuatu Police Force conduct remote policing activities and operations.
Australia is enhancing its relationship and security partnership with Vanuatu through a package of assistance including infrastructure upgrades, enhanced training and leadership opportunities for the Vanuatu Police Force.
Vision from the exercise will be available at: https://bit.ly/2lYSB92
Imagery from the exercise will be available at: https://images.defence.gov.au/S20192246
