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SINGAPORE : The Singapore Armed Forces' (SAF) disaster relief team has returned home from earthquake-hit West Sumatra.
The team, comprising medical and engineering officers, was on a two-week mission of humanitarian assistance in Padang and Pariaman.
Some 80 team members touched down at the Paya Lebar Airbase on Sunday morning.
There was a warm handshake from the Chief of Army, Major General Neo Kian Hong, to welcome the team as they came off the plane.
This was followed by hugs and kisses from family members who were waiting for them at the Air Force Museum.
Cameras snapped away as relieved relatives welcomed their men home from the disaster zone, where they had treated the injured and built new medical facilities.
The 54-man SAF medical group treated more than 1,100 accident and emergency cases and performed over 100 surgeries during the two week operation.
The group set up a mobile clinic at the remote Koto Bangko district near Pariaman and was the only medical team to operate there.
Working at the Pariaman Public Hospital in challenging circumstances required the team to be flexible.
LTC Dr Mohamad Rosman, head, SAF Medical Team, said: "When we first went in, we thought we were going to set up our own field hospital, but when we assessed the situation on the ground, we realised the hospital requires augmentation of staff and surgical facilities, so we adapted and worked with the hospital closely to help alleviate the problems."
The SAF's 30 engineering personnel also constructed two medical clinics in Pariaman and Padang to replace those destroyed by the earthquake.
They were handed over to the local authorities on Friday so residents can continue to get medical care.
At the welcome home ceremony, Major General Neo expressed his appreciation to the SAF team for the successful completion of its mission.
He said: "This mission reflects our operational readiness. Like most humanitarian assistance disaster relief operations, you will be given very short notice. It is reassuring that our people and resources and various agencies could be mobilised swiftly to deliver our mission." - CNA/ms
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