2 August 2016

NZDF Works with China, US And Australia to Solve Humanitarian Aid Issues

Representatives from the People’s Liberation Army, United States military and the Australian Defence Force are in New Zealand this week to look at the way humanitarian operations are conducted in the wake of a South Pacific crisis.

Exercise Cooperation Spirit is an annual tabletop exercise that is designed to strengthen co-operation and contribute to the development of coalition humanitarian aid policies.

Commander Joint Forces New Zealand Major General (MAJGEN) Tim Gall says the exercise will use a detailed scenario in a fictional South Pacific country to present participants with particular problems to resolve.

“We will be asking them to develop solutions based on the combined capabilities of the nations involved. They will have to look at the delivery and distribution of humanitarian aid, dealing with large numbers of internally displaced persons, the protection of civilians, the role of women in peace and security operations, working with Government and non-Government agencies, and the military’s role in a humanitarian crisis.

“All of these issues have been faced in real world disasters in the Pacific in the past ten years, and this exercise will continue to validate how we work together while also extending the knowledge of each other’s humanitarian operations organisation, equipment and capabilities.”

World Vision, Red Cross, Amnesty International, UNICEF and TEAR FUND will be represented at the exercise along with the International Development Group, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Ministry of Defence, NZ Police and a representative for Timor-Leste.

“The theme is ‘The Sum is Greater Than The Parts – 21st Century Humanitarian Operations’, and developing an understanding of how all of these agencies and militaries must work together for greatest effect is crucial to being able to deliver the best humanitarian support to the South Pacific after a disaster,” says MAJGEN Gall.

Exercise Cooperation Spirit began yesterday and runs till the end of the week.

ENDS

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