Tuesday, 30 May 2006
"Operation Lion Heart" Central Java Earthquake - Situation Update 3

Following a joint survey and assessment with the Indonesian Army representatives (TNI) at Bantul, Yogyakarta, the SCDF “Operation Lion Heart” Contingent re-deployed its Operation Base yesterday. Sited at an open field at Tangongan, Pleret, the base is co-located with the SAF medical Team. Pleret is about 16 km from the Adi Sutjipto Airport, where the temporary Operation Base was first set up. Pleret is a sub-district within the district of Bantul.

A search and rescue (SAR) operation was also conducted yesterday afternoon. SCDF rescuers and search dogs searched the ruins of the villages of Gunung Kilir and Kampong Buluran, both of which are located near the new Operation Base. No casualties were found.

The areas of operation for today concentrated at 3 regions south of the Operation Base, namely neighbouring sub-district of Jetis, Pundong and Kretek. No casualties were found trapped by the rescuers. The contingent will continue to work closely with the local authorities in the search and rescue operations, humanitarian assistance and relief efforts.

SCDF has also deployed its United Nations Disaster Assessment and Coordination The United Nations Disaster Assessment and Coordination (UNDAC) team is a stand-by team of disaster management professionals based in different countries which upon request of a disaster-stricken country, would be deployed to carry out rapid assessment of priority needs and to support national Authorities and the United Nations to coordinate international relief on-site. During disasters such as earthquakes, the UNDAC team has to be mobilized rapidly in order to effectively coordinate the search and rescue (SAR) operation of international SAR teams together with the national authorities of the affected country.

(UNDAC) representative, MAJ Alan Toh to join other UNDAC team members activated to help coordinate international rescue and relief operations at the disaster site. He departed for Solo airport at Yogyakarta from Singapore at 0755 hrs this morning. The UNDAC team is expected to travel to Bantul district tomorrow.

The 43-member “Operation Lion Heart” Contingent led by LTC Anwar Abdullah arrived at Yogyakarta on 28 May 2006 to assist in search and rescue operations. It is self-sufficient in food, fuel and equipment supplies. Apart from DART rescuers, the Contingent’s members include a medical team comprising 1 medical officer and 2 paramedics.

An SCDF medical team comprising a doctor and 10 paramedics will join the SAF medical team of 8 doctors to render medical assistance to the quake victims at Bantul Hospital, Central Java. They are scheduled to depart from Changi Air Base, Singapore for Adi Sutjipto Airport via a FOKKER-50 at 0700 hours on 31 May 2006.