21 January 2005
Shadow Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Mr Kevin Rudd MP visits Banda Aceh

Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel are 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 North Sumatra and Aceh Provinces since 28 December 2004.

Relief assistance provided by Australia is part of a co-operative effort involving the ADF, DFAT (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 have set up a water purification plant and have established the Anzac Field Hospital, a field hospital operated jointly by medical personnel of the ADF and the New Zealand Defence Force. The Australian Navy amphibious transport ship, HMAS Kanimbla, delivered a detachment of Australian Army Engineers on 13 January, and has taken up station as a floating support and logistics base for relief and reconstruction work.

JPAU20JAN05PC083 Shadow Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Mr Kevin Rudd MP, is met by Indonesian Government official Mr Wahyudi at Banda Aceh Airport. (Date taken: 20 January 2005) Low-Res | Hi-Res