Partnership Mission Concludes East Timor Visit

Partnership Mission Concludes East Timor Visit

Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel assigned to Pacific Partnership 2010 (PP10) have departed Dili, East Timor following the successful completion of the two-week humanitarian assistance mission as part of the annual US-led endeavour.

Twenty-five ADF personnel embarked in USNS Mercy and the crews of HMA Ships Labuan and Tarakan worked alongside US military and East Timorese Defence Force personnel, as well as Australians assigned to the International Stabilisation Force (ISF) and the Defence Co-operation Program (DCP) during the mission.

"Humanitarian assistance efforts included engineering, medical, dental, veterinary and community service projects in various regions within East Timor," said ADF Contingent Commander Lieutenant Colonel David Collins.

"Engineers from Second Combat Engineer Regiment based in Brisbane painted, re-tiled and re-roofed a school in Dili with their US and Timorese counterparts. Medical and dental personnel conducted 174 surgeries in the eleven operating theatres onboard, as well as treating approximately 19,000 patients at various medical and dental clinics," Lieutenant Colonel Collins said.

Labuan and Tarakan provided ship to shore logistical support in the areas of Oecussi and Lautem.

"The participation by the Navy's heavy landing craft really enhanced our overall Pacific Partnership footprint in East Timor; we were able to send medical, dental and veterinary teams to more remote areas, to service more of the community and work with more members of the Timorese Defence Force," Lieutenant Colonel Collins said.

Commander ISF Colonel Simon Stuart said: "While the ISF and DCP are focused on building the East Timorese Defence Force's capacity, the two week humanitarian aid effort was extremely valuable."

"Our ISF and DCP personnel were able to provide specialist advice to the Pacific Partnership team. Our Defence Force members work very closely with East Timorese Defence Force personnel and I have seen those relationships furthered with the introduction of the larger Pacific Partnership team."

"After the Pacific Partnership team departs, our ISF and DCP personnel will continue with the capacity building work they are affecting in partnership with the Timorese," Colonel Stuart said.

ENDS

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