The New Zealand Air Force has landed in the Philippines to offer the Southeast Asian nation aid. Hercules, the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) C-130, delivered about 30 tonnes of food and basic necessities to the country's central region, where super typhoon Haiyan devastated several provinces.

The cargo plane, which was part of the international relief effort to help the Philippines, arrived in Cebu on Friday with six tonnes of emergency supplies.

"We are supporting the international effort to get aid into the worst-hit areas, where there is a huge humanitarian need for food, water, and shelter," Squadron Leader Steve Thornley was quoted by the APNZ as saying.

The NZ military helped distribute food, water, medical supplies, and other aids to the survivors of the November 8 monster typhoon. They also airlifted about 240 survivors to other locations in the country.

"We also tried to get as many people as we can to better conditions in Cebu," the commander of the 24-member 40 Squadron detachment added.

They have already provided emergency shelter, toilet equipment, and field hospital supplies to Tacloban and Ormoc City and to the town of Guiuan, the areas that suffered the most from Haiyan, or, as the locals call the typhoon, Yolanda. They are expected to reach other areas in the coming days as well.

Thousands of survivors lined up at the airports in a bid to flee their wrecked town, and the NZ aircraft helped them get evacuated.

"Someone told me this is a New Zealand aircraft," 50-year-old carpenter Cristino Campo, who was carried away from Tacloban City with his wife and three children, told APNZ.

"Thank you New Zealand for getting me and my family to safety. Thank you for helping us."

Squadron Leader James Anderson helped distribute relief goods donated by the New Zealand government, as well as from the private sector and non-government organisations. They had flown to Darwin on Sunday to pick up four more tonnes of supplies.

"We are doing as much as we can in coordination with the Philippine military. It's great to be part of this multinational effort to help the Philippines and have the opportunity to make a difference," he said.

"It's very rewarding to be able to wave the Kiwi flag."

The central region of the Philippines suffered from the debilitating effects of Haiyan after the super typhoon reached the country on November 8. As of last official count, more than 3500 people died, with almost a million residents reportedly displaced.

New Zealand contributed $150,000 as well to help the Red Cross maintain the emergency supplies in the affected areas in the Philippines.

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