Visit to Op Padang Assist October 2009
Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Hon. Stephen Smith MP, visited members of the Australian Defence Force (ADF), Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and AusAID, in the City of Padang in West Sumatra. While in Padang the minister was shown the Army’s water purification unit in operation before attending a meeting with the Governor of West Sumatra. To finish the visit, he was taken on a flight in a Royal Australian Navy Seaking helicopter to view the earthquake affected areas to the north of the city where ADF members are operating a health care facility and working to clear a landslide affected area, repair a bridge and clear debris from a school.
Operation Padang Assist commenced on 02 Oct 09 after the Indonesian Government accepted an offer of emergency assistance from Australia following two large earthquakes near the Indonesian Island of Sumatra. The ADF Joint Task Force 629 (JTF629) was established, and is working closely with Indonesian authorities, the Department of Foreign Affairs, AusAID and other agencies, to ensure the emergency relief support is delivered to where it is needed most.
Read MoreOperation Padang Assist commenced on 02 Oct 09 after the Indonesian Government accepted an offer of emergency assistance from Australia following two large earthquakes near the Indonesian Island of Sumatra. The ADF Joint Task Force 629 (JTF629) was established, and is working closely with Indonesian authorities, the Department of Foreign Affairs, AusAID and other agencies, to ensure the emergency relief support is delivered to where it is needed most.
