Situation in Meulaboh

4 Jan 2005

Excavators have started work at Meulaboh, clearing debris and opening access roads for relief supplies to move in.

The Armed Forces’ Humanitarian Assistance Task Force has started work in Meulaboh to clear debris and open access roads for relief supplies to move into the town, using heavy engineering equipment brought onshore yesterday.

The heavy engineering equipment, and vehicles and significant loads of humanitarian supplies, landed in Meulaboh after the Republic of Singapore Navy’s 6,000-ton helicopter landing ship, RSS Endurance, managed to establish two landing sites on the afternoon of 3 January. This was a major breakthrough as Meulaboh had been cut off since the earthquake a week ago and, until then, could only be supplied by helicopters. The establishment of the landing sites was a difficult operation as the entire shoreline of Meulaboh had changed drastically due to the tsunami and severe flooding. The SAF had worked closely with the TNI in the effort to find suitable landing sites.

Singapore’s heavy lift Chinook helicopters have been supplying Meulaboh from Medan daily since 30 December, when they brought in about 12,000 lbs of food and supplies. The Chinooks also delivered medical supplies for the TNI to set up its field hospital. Another

1 significant load the Chinooks brought in was heavy telecommunications equipment to help restore the telephone network.

A second helicopter landing ship from Singapore, RSS Persistence, will arrive in Meulaboh on Thursday evening (6 January). RSS Persistence is also carrying 203 personnel and 4 “Bronco” All Terrain Track Carriers, as well as heavy equipment (including cranes, a forklift, and excavator). There are also 4 container loads of food and medical supplies from the Singapore Red Cross on board.

Singapore’s humanitarian mission assets have also been augmented with the despatch of another 4 Chinook heavy lift helicopters. They arrived yesterday in Medan and have started operations. Singapore now has a fleet of 8 helicopters to carry out the distribution of relief supplies in North . Today, the helicopters conducted several resupply, evacuation and personnel ferry missions between Medan, Banda and Meulaboh.

The SAF field hospital in Meulaboh which started operating yesterday has treated about 200 patients so far. They work alongside Indonesian medical staff.

The SAF now has 6 Chinooks in Sumatra assisting in several resupply, evacuation and personnel ferry missions.

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