Operation PAPUA NEW GUINEA ASSIST : Image Galleries
04 December 2007
ADF aircraft deliver aid
The Black Hawk helicopters of B Squadron 5th aviation Regiment and Royal Australian Air Force Caribous from 38 Squadron have, with the help of civilian aircraft out of Girua Airfield, delivered the last of aid needed in remote villages effected by the floods that struck Oro province in Papua New Guinea after Cyclone Guba.
Using their exceptional heavy lift capability, the Black Hawks and Royal Australian Air Force Caribous have taken hundreds of metric tonnes of rice, water and medical aid to the remote communities, previously cut off by road.
Members of the Papua New Guinea Defence Force and PNG Police have joined locals at the airfield to handle the last of the aid stores onto aircraft as well as local trucks.
The completion of fords across the once flood-affected rivers, is gradually opening up key routes from Girua Airfield to Popondetta, through to the beach head at Gona, allowing local authorities to establish a supply route for the last of the aid that has been sent by many countries.
The Royal Australian Navy landing Craft Heavy HMAS Wewak will offload thousands of tons of rice and other aid, with the construction of a dirt and stone jetty in the next couple of days. All aid will be able to travel by road from Gona reaching all major centres of Oro Province.
Operation PNG Assist is the Australian Defence Force’s mission to provide substantial disaster relief assistance to Papua New Guinea, as they help villages destroyed by flooding in the wake of Cyclone Guba.
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| 20071130adf8262658_036 Papua New Guinea Defence Force personnel coordinate to movement of international aid to Australian Army Black Hawk helicopters at Girua Airfield in Papua New Guinea during Operation PNG Assist. (Date taken: 30 November 2007) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20071130adf8262658_077 Warrant Officer Class 2 Anthony Johnson starts the human chain to put the last of the international aid into a B Squadron 5th Aviation Black Hawk helicopter at Girua Airfield in Papua New Guinea during Operation PNG Assist. (Date taken: 30 November 2007) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20071130adf8262658_088 Australian Army Aviation Loadmasters from B Squadron, 5th Aviation Regiment, stand out of their from their seats as their Australian Army Black Hawk helicopter lifts off from Girua Airfield with some of the last international aid to be distributed to villages affected by floods in and around Oro province in Papua New Guinea, during Operation PNG Assist. (Date taken: 30 November 2007) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20071130adf8262658_364 Royal Australian Navy Lieutenant Deiter Wakelin is steers by his team of Hydrographic System Operators (HSO): Leading Seaman HSO Ryan Carruthers and LS HSO Chap Mapp. Joining them is Executive Officer of the Landing Craft Heavy HMAS Wewak Lieutenant Andrew Forman, as they come into land at Gona Beach in Papua New Guinea, during Operation PNG Assist. (Date taken: 30 November 2007) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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