SINGAPORE : The Singapore government has sent three Chinook
helicopters to the quake-hit Indonesian island of Nias to help in
the recovery efforts there.
The choppers left Singapore on Tuesday at about 5pm for the
four-hour initial flight to Medan and then on to Nias.
And their immediate task is to establish links with the Indonesian
authorities to see how the Singapore relief teams can help.
The advance party to Nias consists of some 48 personnel - from the
Air Force, SAF medical team and the Singapore Civil Defence Force
Disaster Assistance Rescue Team.
In the Chinooks' cargo hold are also two SCDF off-road
vehicles.
Another C-130 transport plane is also expected to leave for Medan
sometime Wednesday morning carrying about 80 additional
personnel.
Cedric Foo, Minister of State for Defence, said, "We don't know
what is the extent of the damage but clearly (this is) the
immediate phase and what's needed is evacuation, saving lives,
medical aid. People maybe trapped in the rubble and so that's why
we've constituted the force today."
Associate Professor Ho Peng Kee, Senior Minister of State for Law
and Home Affairs, said,
"It's the matter of meeting the needs, as far as the SCDF rescuers
are concerned, we have to be there early enough to make a
meaningful contribution."
The three Chinooks are based at 127 Squadron at Sembawang Air
Base.
Their mission in Nias is a familiar one, after the recent RSAF
deployment to the tsunami-hit areas of Meulaboh and Banda Aceh,
where they clocked many hours of flying time.
LT COL Vincent Lim, Commanding Officer, 127 Squadron, said, "We
heard the news this morning and we were able to bring our people
together and get our aircraft ready, and we're flying into Medan to
link up with the TNI officials and see what we can help and provide
the maximum support to the people there."
It has not been established exactly how long the Singapore rescue
teams will be deployed, but most of the personnel are prepared to
stay at least two weeks. - CNA