| The
largest relief mission
organized by the
Singapore Red Cross
today arrived in
Meulaboh, Indonesia.
The area around
the fishing village
of Meulaboh in West
Sumatra is widely
regarded the area
worst affected by
the earthquake and
tsunami on 26 Dec
2004. It is 240
kilometers from
the provincial capital,
Banda Ache. The
earthquake and tsunami
destroyed all access
to the area by road
or by sea. For many
days thereafter,
the devastated region
received only minimal
relief. These were
largely from drops
by Singapore Armed
Forces helicopters.
However, late last
week Singapore Armed
Forces engineers
managed to create
a landing point
on the destroyed
beaches. This enabled
equipment and supplies
on board Singapore
navel vessels which
were dispatched
to the scene to
be unloaded.
The Singapore
Red Cross relief
team arrived on
board the Republic
of Singapore Navy
LST RSS Endeavour.
The 60-member
team encompasses
a wide range of
skills. These
include logisticians,
medical personnel,
emergency behavioral
counsellors and
miscellaneous
skills. They also
include volunteers
from other civil
society groups
in Singapore who
gathered under
the Red Cross
banner and are
led by officers
of the Singapore
Red Cross.
The team brought
with them over
100 tones of much
needed supplies
for distribution
to the victims
of the earthquake
and tsunami. These
include medical
relief supplies,
blankets, face
masks, field tents,
food and school
kits, "Family
Packs" and
2 lorries. The
Red Cross team
will work closely
with the Indonesian
Red Cross Society
as well as the
medical facilities
established by
the Singapore
Armed Forces in
the affected area.
The members of
the team are expected
to operate in
the Meulaboh area
for about 10 days
before returning
to Singapore.
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