SINGAPORE : Four helicopters from the Singapore airforce left
for Phuket on Thursday morning to join the Thai authorities and
other international relief agencies in search and rescue operations
following Sunday's devastating tsunami.
This comes a day after a team left for Indonesia to help out with
the relief mission in Aceh.
The Singapore Navy's Landing Ship Tank would be ready to sail off
to Western Sumatra on Friday.
On hand to send off the men on their mission was Defence Minister
Teo Chee Hean.
He had spoken to his Thai counterpart to inform him of the help
Singapore is rendering in the search and rescue operations.
Rear Admiral Teo said, "We have sent off four helicopters to Phuket
as well -- that is also a very seriously affected area. A good
number of Singaporeans have been affected there. We are very
grateful to the Thai authorities' assistance for our Singaporeans
who are there and we hope that with the resources we are sending
there, it will be helpful to the Thai authorities in their overall
relief efforts."
The Singapore Armed Forces has sent 70 men on its humanitarian
relief mission to Phuket for a two-week period.
The men say their task is expected to be a challenging one,
especially with a breakdown in good communications infrastructure
and hygene conditions.
Said Lieutenant-Colonel Vincent Lim of the 127 Squadron, "The
biggest concern is the uncertainty. We must be prepared to be
adaptable and be flexible to deal with the situation and the
environment."
Added Staff Sergeant Rajesh Sara of the RSAF Phuket Mission Team,
"Over the years, we have been very prepared in terms of search and
resuce, so going over to Phuket shouldn't be a problem."
Meanwhile, Singapore's Chinook helicopters have arrived in Aceh and
started work Thursday morning.
Admiral Teo said, "The Chinooks are particularly useful because
they have a very heavy lift capability. They can lift 20,000
pounds, carry 55 people. So I think it will be very useful to
distribute the things from the logistics centres.
"The ship also should be ready to go tomorrow. It will be a fairly
major capability to be able to go pretty close to the epicentre of
the quake, the islands around there and the west coast of Sumatra.
(It would be) be able to operate quite autonomously with landing
craft, medical teams and helicopters also necessary to provide
support to areas severely affected.
"It is becoming very clear that Indonesia is the most severely
affected country. The Indonesian authorities are doing their best
to cope and we will fit in with their efforts to help as much as
possible."
The minister said this has been possible due to the quick response
action by the air force to put together the assistance package
together all within 48 hours.
Another medical team of 25 SAF personnel left on Thursday morning
for Banda Aceh.
The three C-130 aircraft also carried another consignment of relief
and medical supplies, which were handed over to the Indonesian
authorities in Banda Aceh. - CNA