29 November 2005
ADF medics help Pakistan earthquake victims

An Australian Defence Force medical team of about 140 personnel 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 ADF medical team quickly began work in the remote earthquake-devastated town of Dhanni, about 20km northeast of Muzaffarabad, on the Pakistan side of the Kashmir Line of Control.

Four Australian Army Black Hawk helicopters are deployed to Pakistan to provide essential transport and support tasks for the ADF medical team. The helicopters will give the team mobility to extend assistance from the central medical facility at Dhanni to remote communities of the region, where earthquake damage has worsened the difficulties of limited road access, mountainous terrain and harsh winter weather.

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.

The ADF team includes a command element, aviation detachment, logistics and communications. 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. Other personnel are drawn from a range of units across Australia, including Reserves. The Black Hawk detachment is mostly from the Australian Army 5th Aviation Regiment, based in Townsville.

20051123adf8239682_0520 An Australian Army Black Hawk helicopter from 5 Aviation Regiment, Townsville, in Islamabad as part of Operation Pakistan Assist. (Date taken: 23 November 2005) Low-Res | Hi-Res	20051123adf8239682_0529 An Australian Army Black Hawk helicopter from 5 Aviation Regiment, Townsville, lands in Islamabad as part of Operation Pakistan Assist. (Date taken: 23 November 2005) Low-Res | Hi-Res
20051125adf8239682_0067 Flight Lieutenant Audra Tan chats with some locals in Dhanni in support of Pakistan Assist. (Date taken: 25 November 2005) Low-Res | Hi-Res	20051125adf8239682_0110 Flight Lieutenant Audra Tan chats with a mother taking her baby to the medical center in Dhanni. (Date taken: 25 November 2005) Low-Res | Hi-Res
20051125adf8239682_0184 Local children affected by the Pakistan earthquake, in which 73 children from their school were killed in Dhanni. (Date taken: 25 November 2005) Low-Res | Hi-Res	20051125adf8239682_0414 Australian Army Black Hawk helicopters from 5 Aviation Regiment, Townsville, Queensland, conduct re-supply to the Australian contingent in Dhanni as part of Operation Assist. (Date taken: 25 November 2005) Low-Res | Hi-Res
20051125adf8239682_0428 Flight Lieutenant Audra Tan chats with some Pakistani locals in Dhanni in support of Pakistan Assist. (Date taken: 25 November 2005) Low-Res | Hi-Res	20051125adf8239682_0617 Captain Matt Colquhoun of 5th Aviation Regiment, Townsville, conducts resupply in Dhanni on Operation Pakistan Assist. (Date taken: 25 November 2005) Low-Res | Hi-Res
20051125adf8239682_0726 Private Markus Collins assess a young child in Dhanni as part of Pakistan Assist. (Date taken: 25 November 2005) Low-Res | Hi-Res