17 November 2005
ADF medical team begins deployment in Pakistan

An Australian Defence Force medical team began to deploy into Pakistan on 11-12 November 2005 to provide vital health care assistance as part of the Australian Government's relief assistance to Pakistan following earthquakes on 8 October.

The team comprises about 140 personnel, including a command element, aviation detachment, logistics and communications.

Four Black Hawk helicopters are deploying to provide essential transport and support tasks around the remote town of Dhanni, about 20km northeast of Muzaffarabad, on the Pakistan side of the Kashmir Line Of Control. The helicopters give the medical team the capability to provide assistance to remote regional communities, which have limited road access, hampered by difficult terrain and harsh winter weather.

The ADF team is establishing a central medical facility in Dhanni. Three separate mobile medical groups will be able to extend humanitarian assistance from this central hub into the neighbouring region.

The Black Hawk detachment is primarily from the Australian Army 5th Aviation Regiment, based in Townsville. Most of the health and support personnel are drawn from the Army logistic support force based at Randwick Barracks, Sydney.

The medical team is supplemented by an Air Force primary health care team from Richmond, New South Wales, and other personnel drawn from a range of units across Australia, including Reserves. The composition and skills of the team deployed reflect the extensive experience of the Australian Defence Force in providing humanitarian assistance in remote regions of other countries affected by natural disasters.

20051115adf8239682_0014 Members of the Australian Defence Force team unload humanitarian assistance stores and personal kit in the town of Dhanni from a United States of America Chinook helicopter. (Date taken: 15 November 2005) Low-Res | Hi-Res	20051115adf8239682_0074 Two American Chinook helicopters bring Australian stores to Dhanni. (Date taken: 15 November 2005) Low-Res | Hi-Res
20051115adf8239682_0161 Private Robbie Keenan, an Australian Army medic deployed on OP Pakistan Assist, removes debris from the hand injury of a young child. (Date taken: 15 November 2005) Low-Res | Hi-Res	20051115adf8239682_0189 Australian Army medics Private Billings and Private Keenan meet people of Dhanni after arriving to provide health care as part of Australia's humanitarian assistance. (Date taken: 15 November 2005) Low-Res | Hi-Res
20051115adf8239682_0193 Private Billings, an Australian Army medic, meets with people of the town of Dhanni. (Date taken: 15 November 2005) Low-Res | Hi-Res	20051115adf8239682_0250 Pakistan soldiers help to unload Australian humanitarian assistance supplies from an American Chinook helicopter at Dhanni. (Date taken: 15 November 2005) Low-Res | Hi-Res
20051115adf8239682_0263 Tents used as temporary housing for the people of Dhanni following the 8 October earthquake. (Date taken: 15 November 2005) Low-Res | Hi-Res	20051115adf8239682_0273 An American Chinook helicopter brings Australian humanitarian assistance stores to the town of Dhanni. (Date taken: 15 November 2005) Low-Res | Hi-Res
20051115adf8239682_0293 American Chinook helicopters bring Australian humanitarian assistance stores to the town of Dhanni. (Date taken: 15 November 2005) Low-Res | Hi-Res	20051115adf8239682_0392 The former home of two families of the town of Dhanni ruined by the 8 October earthquake. (Date taken: 15 November 2005) Low-Res | Hi-Res
20051115adf8239682_0411 Private Robbie Keenan, an Australian Army medic, meets local people of Dhanni. (Date taken: 15 November 2005) Low-Res | Hi-Res	20051115adf8239682_0430 A young child watches the arrival of the Australian contingent in Dhanni to provide primary health care in the earthquake-affected zone. (Date taken: 15 November 2005) Low-Res | Hi-Res
20051115adf8239682_0463 American Chinook helicopters carry Australian humanitarian assistance teams and stores to Dhanni. (Date taken: 15 November 2005) Low-Res | Hi-Res	20051115adf8239682_0572 Australian soldiers unload humanitarian assistance stores and personal kit from an American Chinook helicopter after arrival in Dhanni. (Date taken: 15 November 2005) Low-Res | Hi-Res
20051115adf8239682_0665 An Australian soldier in the town of Dhanni, as the American Chinook helicopter which delivered his team and Australian humanitarian assistance stores takes off from the landing zone. (Date taken: 15 November 2005) Low-Res | Hi-Res	20051115adf8239682_0700 Australian and Pakistani soldiers take cover from flying dust and grit in the downwash of an American Chinook helicopter departing Dhanni. (Date taken: 15 November 2005) Low-Res | Hi-Res
20051115adf8239682_0744 Private Robbie Keenan, an Australian Army medic deployed on Operation Pakistan Assist, removes debris from the hand injury of a young child. (Date taken: 15 November 2005) Low-Res | Hi-Res	20051115adf8239682_0790 An American Chinook helicopter departs Dhanni after delivering Australian humanitarian assistance stores. (Date taken: 15 November 2005) Low-Res | Hi-Res
20051115adf8239682_0793 An American Chinook helicopter departs Dhanni after dropping off Australian humanitarian assistance personnel and stores. (Date taken: 15 November 2005) Low-Res | Hi-Res	20051115adf8239682_0852 Dhanni residents collect water from their only water source following the 8 October earthquake. (Date taken: 15 November 2005) Low-Res | Hi-Res
20051115adf8239682_0853 Dhanni residents shelter in temporary accommodation following the 8 October earthquake which destroyed their homes. (Date taken: 15 November 2005) Low-Res | Hi-Res	20051115adf8239682_0856 Dhanni residents shelter in temporary accommodation following the 8 October earthquake which destroyed their homes. (Date taken: 15 November 2005) Low-Res | Hi-Res
20051115adf8239682_0869 Devastation left by the 8 October earthquake, which destroyed about 98 per cent of buildings in the town of Dhanni. (Date taken: 15 November 2005) Low-Res | Hi-Res	20051115adf8239682_0872 Locals in Dhanni begin the slow process of rebuilding their town following the 8 October earthquake. (Date taken: 15 November 2005) Low-Res | Hi-Res
20051115adf8239682_0897 Overcome by the devastation caused by the 8 October earthquake, a Dhanni resident whose home was destroyed rests on the side of the road. (Date taken: 15 November 2005) Low-Res | Hi-Res	20051115adf8239682_0912 Private Billings, an Australian Army medic, talks with people of Dhanni. (Date taken: 15 November 2005) Low-Res | Hi-Res