Australia provides heavy lift to Philippines support

Minister for Defence Senator David Johnston has announced that a Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) C-17A Globemaster and a C-130J Hercules are departing from Darwin to transport an Australian Medical Assistance Team (AusMAT) to the Philippines to give support following the devastation caused by Typhoon Haiyan.

The heavy lift aircraft will transport the civilian medical team and 22 tonnes of associated equipment to Mactan Air Field on Cebu. Once in Cebu the C-130J Hercules will transfer the medical team to Tacloban.

The aircraft are departing today following confirmation of an operating location for the medical team at Tacloban airport.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is deploying crisis response specialists and consular staff with the AusMAT team into the worst affected areas.

This will include an additional two Rapid Response Team personnel to support humanitarian assistance, and two Emergency Response Team officers to assist the Australian Embassy, Manila with the consular response

Defence stands ready to respond to any further request for assistance.