UK provides further assistance to NZ quake recovery

The UK will provide a team of disaster victim identification (DVI) experts to Christchurch, New Zealand, to help identify victims of the severe earthquake in the city earlier this week.

It is expected that the advance team of British DVI specialists will arrive in Christchurch on Monday 28 February. The advance party will be able to make a technical assessment about further UK deployments.

The UK Government is working with the New Zealand authorities to determine how many and what sorts of specialist DVI experts are needed, and the New Zealand Government has welcomed the offer of assistance.

In addition, yesterday a British specialist rescue team arrived in Christchurch to help search for survivors among the city’s flattened buildings. They are currently working at the PGC building.

The British UK Fire Service International Rescue Team is made up of some 55 members drawn from the emergency fire and rescue services. They have been tasked with searching the very badly damaged PGG building in the centre of Christchurch.

The British High Commissioner to NZ, Ms Vicki Treadell, has been on the ground in Christchurch assisting British nationals and said the UK is only too willing to help.

“With New Zealand and Britain being such close friends, this is an opportunity to support and assist each other at this time of crisis,” Ms Treadell said.

“We also have a large consular team on the ground who are providing full consular assistance to any British nationals that require it, and continue to work closely with NZ authorities during this difficult time,” she said.

Ends

© Scoop Media