Defence Minister Robert Hill announced today that the Army’s Iroquois helicopter detachment will soon return home to Australia following its successful deployment to Indonesia to assist with the tsunami relief effort.
"The Iroquois and their crews have proven to be an invaluable tool in delivering urgently needed aid to many isolated areas," Senator Hill said.
"Despite being deployed for little more than a month, the Iroquois have flown nearly 300 missions and have delivered 150 tonnes of food, water and other humanitarian supplies.
"They have also transported nearly 500 displaced people as well as conducting life-saving aero-medical evacuations.
"With a sound track-record for serving Australia well, the Iroquois have once again proven their worth and their withdrawal reflects the improving ability to deliver stores in the Western Sumatra region by road and sea.
"The fact that this point has been reached so quickly is a tribute to the speed and effectiveness of the Australian and International assistance provided to Indonesia following the devastating tsunami."
Senator Hill said that while there remains much work to be done, it is now appropriate that Australia’s assistance commences transitioning from military emergency operations to longer-term reconstruction tasks performed by civilian agencies.
The Iroquois detachment has now completed its final missions and is now preparing to return to Australia.
To date, total humanitarian aid delivered to Indonesia by the ADF relief effort includes:
- The delivery of 1175 tonnes of food and stores,
- Over 2500 people transported,
- Over 3600 medical treatments conducted,
- The production of approximately 4.5 million litres of clean water, and
- Aero-medical evacuations.
The Government announced earlier this week that the ADF Medical teams in Banda Aceh will soon return home to Australia following the staged transition of medical support to civilian medical practitioners.
Following the removal of the helicopter detachment, Australia’s remaining relief contingent for Operation Sumatra Assist will be made up of HMAS Kanimbla, which includes two sea king helicopters and two large landing craft, two C-130 Hercules transport aircraft, Engineering detachment and logistics personnel.
