Setting up landing site on Meulaboh a priority for RSS Endurance
By Channel NewsAsia's S Ramesh in Meulaboh | Posted: 06 January 2005 1313 hrs

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MEULABOH, Indonesia : Preparations for a landing site on the mainland of tsunami-hit Meulaboh, Indonesia, remain a high priority for the Singapore Armed Forces humanitarian task force team there, say officials on board the landing ship tank, RSS Endurance.

Such a landing site will help further expedite the bringing in of more resources and relief into Meulaboh, even from Medan.

Another major development is the start of surgery operations at the medical centres being set up in Meulaboh.

This is in addition to the primary healthcare services already being rendered.

Meanwhile, the navy's second landing ship tank, RSS Persistence, is expected to arrive off the seas of Meulaboh on Thursday afternoon.

The arrival of the Persistence will help further complement the role being played by the Endurance, which has served as a critical staging platform for the SAF's operations at Meulaboh.

RSS Endurance, now docked just off the coast of Meulaboh, is carrying medical teams, engineers, transport vehicles and food and medical supplies from the Singapore Red Cross. - CNA

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