21 January 2005
Indonesian Navy West Fleet Commander visits HMAS Kanimbla

Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel are assisting Indonesian Government authorities as part of the Australian Government programme 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.

20050115ran8097690_127 The Commander of the Indonesian Navy West Fleet, Rear Admiral Didik Heru Purnomo (second from left), on 16 January 2005 visited HMAS Kanimbla, on station at Banda Aceh, Indonesia, to support tsunami relief and reconstruction. Commanding Officer HMAS Kanimbla Commander Steve Woodall (left) and Commander Task Group Captain Peter Leschen (third from left), presented the Admiral and his staff with the HMAS Kanimbla caps they are wearing in this photograph. (Date taken: 15 January 2005) Low-Res | Hi-Res