Kiwi urban search and rescue team head to Vanuatu

A young boy plays with a ball as his mother searches through the ruins of their family home in Port Vila, Vanuatu. Photo / Getty Images

A team of urban search and rescue personnel will fly to Vanuatu today to help with rebuilding efforts in the wake of Cyclone Pam.

The New Zealand USAR squad of 14 will focus on the island of Epi, north of the capital Port Vila.

The team will be based on board the HMNZS Canterbury, which arrived in Vanuatu this week with nearly 12 tonnes of medical supplies and equipment for producing drinking water.

Paul Baxter, chief executive and national commander of the New Zealand Fire Service, which leads the country's USAR capability, said 10 members of the team would operate equipment to supply residents of Epi with 20,000 litres of water a day.

The other four would provide logistical support to a New Zealand medical assistance team, which would be based on Epi and would provide a range of services to the island's 5000 residents.

The team will fly from Auckland Airport this afternoon for a two-week deployment, as part of New Zealand's wider aid package.