ADF MEDICAL TEAM TO DEPLOY TO PAKISTAN

Blackanthem.com, SYDNEY, Australia, November 09, 2005 12:56

An Australian Defence Force medical team will begin deploying to Pakistan from tomorrow to provide vital health care assistance to those affected by the recent earthquake.

Defence Minister Robert Hill said that following the Prime Minister's announcement to Parliament today planning is underway for the first element of the team to fly out of Sydney Airport tomorrow, Thursday 10 November.

Senator Hill said RAAF B-707 and C-130 aircraft will conduct the initial air lift to a base at Dhanni, about 20km north east of Muzaffarabad in Pakistan.

Senator Hill said the deployment will be for up to 90 days as part of Operation Pakistan Assist. The ADF team will not be armed and security will be provided by the Pakistan Defence Force because it is considered a humanitarian mission similar to the assistance provided to Aceh in Indonesia.

"The team, made up of about 140 personnel, will include a command element, aviation detachment as well as logistics and communication personnel," Senator Hill said.

"Four Blackhawk helicopters will be deployed to provide essential transport and support tasks around the remote town of Dhanni.

"The Blackhawk helicopters will give the medical team the ability to provide assistance to remote regional communities which have limited road access and are hampered by very difficult terrain.

"A central medical facility will be established in Dhanni. However, the ADF team will have the ability to disperse three separate mobile medical groups from the central hub into the neighbouring region.

"This will provide maximum flexibility to provide humanitarian assistance to a large number of people who have suffered so much as a result of the earthquake and are in desperate need of assistance before the harsh winter conditions set in.

"The Blackhawk detachment will be primarily from the Army's 5th Aviation Regiment based in Townsville. The majority of the health and support personnel will be drawn from the Army's logistic support force based at Randwick Barracks, in Sydney.

"The medical team will be supplemented by an Air Force primary health care team based at Richmond, New South Wales, with other personnel drawn from a range of units across Australia. The team will include a number of Reserve personnel.

"This deployment builds on the successful work by our ADF personnel providing humanitarian assistance to countries affected by natural disasters. I wish the team well in their deployment and thank them for their commitment and dedication on behalf of the Australian people."

Source : Australian Department of Defence