New Zealand sends more relief supplies after Solomon Islands flooding

The New Zealand government is to dispatch a second air force C-130 aircraft with relief supplies to help survivors of last week's flooding in the Solomon Islands. "Assessments on the ground have reinforced the need for a further C-130 flight to transport additional supplies to help support the relief effort after the severe flooding on Guadalcanal, " Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully said in a joint statement with Defence Minister Jonathan Coleman on Thursday. "The C-130 will carry additional relief supplies and technical experts to assist with relief and recovery work being carried out by the Solomon Islands government." The C-130 was scheduled to depart from Auckland early Friday for Honiara. "New Zealand Aid Programme, Defence and health teams have also been on the ground undertaking damage assessments to shape what further support is required," Coleman said in the statement. The New Zealand government's financial contribution to the flood relief effort totalled about 1.6 million dollars (1.39 million U.S. dollars). At least 23 people died and dozens are missing after the flash flooding on April 3, while about 9,000 people were left homeless.