23 February 2005
General Cosgrove visits Aceh

As the Indonesian Government-led tsunami disaster relief programme shifts from emergency assistance to reconstruction, Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel have begun preparing for their departure by handing over functioning capabilities to civilian administration.

The ADF has been assisting Indonesian Government authorities as part of the Australian Government program of humanitarian relief following the Boxing Day tsunami. The ADF has been working in support of tsunami disaster relief in Indonesia's Northern Sumatra and Aceh Provinces since 28 December 2004.

Relief assistance provided by Australia is part of a co-operative effort involving the ADF, the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID) and Emergency Management Australia. Water, tentage, medical supplies, blankets, and other emergency provisions, and logistical support have been provided.

In the tsunami-devastated provincial capital of Banda Aceh, the ADF set up a water purification plant and established the ANZAC Field Hospital.

ADF and New Zealand Defence Force medical personnel jointly operated infectious diseases and surgical facilities at the field hospital, co-located with the heavily damaged Banda Aceh public hospital.

The ANZAC Field Hospital performed its final operation on 20 February before handover of its facilities to Indonesian civilian management supported by AusAID.

The Australian Navy amphibious transport ship, HMAS Kanimbla, delivered a detachment of Australian Army Engineers on 13 January, and took up station as a floating support and logistics base for relief and reconstruction work.

Read release: General Cosgrove visits Aceh

20050222adf8237482_003 Australia's Chief of Defence Force, General Peter Cosgrove, is greeted by senior Indonesian officers at Banda Aceh airport during his visit on 22 February to troops engaged in tsunami relief. (Date taken: 22 February 2005) Low-Res | Hi-Res	20050222adf8237482_019 Australia's Chief of Defence Force, General Peter Cosgrove, discusses with senior Indonesian officers the assistance provided by Australia for tsunami disaster relief work in Indonesia's Aceh Province. (Date taken: 22 February 2005) Low-Res | Hi-Res
20050222adf8237482_026 Australia's Chief of Defence Force, General Peter Cosgrove, discusses the clean up of Banda Aceh with the commanding officer of the Australian Army 1st Combat Engineer Regiment, Lieutenant Colonel Ian Cumming. (Date taken: 22 February 2005) Low-Res | Hi-Res	20050222adf8237482_027 Australia's Chief of Defence Force, General Peter Cosgrove, during his visit on 22 February to troops in Banda Aceh. (Date taken: 22 February 2005) Low-Res | Hi-Res
20050222adf8237482_029 The commanding officer of the ANZAC Field Hospital, Lieutenant Colonel Georgeina Whelan, conducts Australia's Chief of Defence Force, General Peter Cosgrove, on a tour through the hospital during the CDF's visit to Banda Aceh. (Date taken: 22 February 2005) Low-Res | Hi-Res	20050222adf8237482_069 The Chief of Staff (Kasad) of the Indonesian Army, General Ryamizard Ryacudu, discusses with Australia's Chief of Defence Force, General Peter Cosgrove, the joint work of Indonesian and Australian personnel on tsunami disaster relief during a meeting in Banda Aceh on 22 February. (Date taken: 22 February 2005) Low-Res | Hi-Res
20050222adf8237482_088 The Chief of Staff (Kasad) of the Indonesian Army, General Ryamizard Ryacudu (centre), discusses with Australia's Chief of Defence Force, General Peter Cosgrove, the joint work of Indonesian and Australian personnel on tsunami disaster relief during a meeting in Banda Aceh on 22 February. (Date taken: 22 February 2005) Low-Res | Hi-Res	20050222adf8237482_095 The Chief of Staff (Kasad) of the Indonesian Army, General Ryamizard Ryacudu, meets Australia's Chief of Defence Force, General Peter Cosgrove, to discuss the joint work of Indonesian and Australian personnel on tsunami disaster relief in Banda Aceh on 22 February. (Date taken: 22 February 2005) Low-Res | Hi-Res
20050222adf8237482_111 Australia's Chief of Defence Force, General Peter Cosgrove, receives a briefing on the post-tsunami clean up of Banda Aceh from the commanding officer of the Australian Army 1st Combat Engineer Regiment, Lieutenant Colonel Ian Cumming. (Date taken: 22 February 2005) Low-Res | Hi-Res	20050222adf8237482_133 Australia's Chief of Defence Force, General Peter Cosgrove, observes during his visit on 22 February the devastation still widely apparent in Banda Aceh following the Boxing Day tsunami. (Date taken: 22 February 2005) Low-Res | Hi-Res
20050222adf8237482_142 Australia's Chief of Defence Force, General Peter Cosgrove, meets Craftsman Rod Wild, a recovery mechanic from the Australian Army 1st Combat Services Support Battalion during his visit to Banda Aceh on 22 February. The commanding officer of the Australian Army 1st Combat Engineer Regiment, Lieutenant Colonel Ian Cumming, is at left. (Date taken: 22 February 2005) Low-Res | Hi-Res	20050222adf8237482_146 Australia's Chief of Defence Force, General Peter Cosgrove, discusses the post-tsunami cleanup operation with recovery mechanics Craftsman Aaron Jarma, and Craftsman Rod Wild, from the Australian Army 1st Combat Services Support Battalion. (Date taken: 22 February 2005) Low-Res | Hi-Res
20050222adf8237482_159 Australia's Chief of Defence Force, General Peter Cosgrove, discusses the post-tsunami cleanup of Banda Aceh with Lieutenant Colonel Ian Cumming, Commanding Officer of the 1st Combat Engineer Regiment, Australian Army. (Date taken: 22 February 2005) Low-Res | Hi-Res	20050222adf8237482_162 The commanding officer of the ANZAC Field Hospital, Lieutenant Colonel Georgeina Whelan, conducts Australia's Chief of Defence Force, General Peter Cosgrove, on a tour through the hospital during the CDF's visit to Banda Aceh. (Date taken: 22 February 2005) Low-Res | Hi-Res
20050222adf8237482_166 Australia's Chief of Defence Force, General Peter Cosgrove, discusses the work of the Banda Aceh hospital with Australian Army medical scientist Captain Dennis Mok during his visit on 22 February to troops in Banda Aceh. An Indonesian technician works with a microscope in the foreground. (Date taken: 22 February 2005) Low-Res | Hi-Res	20050222adf8237482_170 Captain Elizabeth Christie, Officer in Command of the Surgical Platoon, 1st Health Support Battalion, Australian Army. Captain Christie was deployed to the ANZAC Field Hospital, Banda Aceh, where her roles included the delivery of babies -- recorded with stick figures drawn on the operating theatre door. Captain Christie's hometown is Kellyville, Sydney, NSW. (Date taken: 22 February 2005) Low-Res | Hi-Res
20050222adf8237482_173 Australia's Chief of Defence Force, General Peter Cosgrove, visiting tsunami disaster relief operations in Indonesia on 22 February, addresses Australian Defence Force medical personnel based in Banda Aceh Public Hospital. (Date taken: 22 February 2005) Low-Res | Hi-Res	20050222adf8237482_184 Australia's Chief of Defence Force, General Peter Cosgrove, with the Australian contingent of the ANZAC Field Hospital during his visit to troops working on tsunami disaster relief in Banda Aceh. (Date taken: 22 February 2005) Low-Res | Hi-Res