13 November 2005
ADF humanitarian mission arrives in Pakistan

An Australian Defence Force medical team began to deploy into Pakistan on 11-12 November 2005 to provide vital health care assistance as part of the Australian Government's relief assistance to Pakistan following earthquakes on 8 October.

The team comprises about 140 personnel, including a command element, aviation detachment, logistics and communications.

Four Black Hawk helicopters will deploy to provide essential transport and support tasks around the remote town of Dhanni, about 20km northeast of Muzaffarabad.

The helicopters will give the medical team the ability to provide assistance to remote regional communities, which have limited road access, hampered by difficult terrain and harsh winter weather.

The ADF team will establish a central medical facility in Dhanni. The team will have the ability to disperse three separate mobile medical groups from this central hub into the neighbouring region.

The Black Hawk detachment is primarily from the Australian Army 5th Aviation Regiment, based in Townsville.

Most of the health and support personnel are drawn from the Army logistic support force based at Randwick Barracks, Sydney.

The medical team is being supplemented by an Air Force primary health care team from Richmond, New South Wales, and other personnel drawn from a range of units across Australia. The team will include Reserve personnel.

20051112adf8239682_0044 A Pakistan official greets an Australian soldier arriving at Islamabad airport, Pakistan, as part of the Australian Defence Force humanitarian assistance mission. (Date taken: 12 November 2005) Low-Res | Hi-Res	20051112adf8239682_0052 Flying Officer Robert Skoda of the Royal Australian Air Force liaises with Pakistan officials about arrival formalities for the Australian Defence Force medical team in Islamabad, Pakistan. (Date taken: 12 November 2005) Low-Res | Hi-Res
20051112adf8239682_0073 Members of the Australian Defence Force humanitarian assistance team file into the arrival area at Islamabad international airport, Pakistan. (Date taken: 12 November 2005) Low-Res | Hi-Res	20051112adf8239682_0075 Members of the Australian Defence Force humanitarian assistance team file into the arrival area at Islamabad international airport, Pakistan. (Date taken: 12 November 2005) Low-Res | Hi-Res
20051112adf8239682_0120 Pakistan Air Force officials co-ordinate the unloading of Australian Defence Force humanitarian assistance equipment from a RAAF 707 in Islamabad, Pakistan. (Date taken: 12 November 2005) Low-Res | Hi-Res	20051112adf8239682_0126 Members of the Australian Defence Force humanitarian assistance team disembark from a RAAF Boeing 707 at Islamabad international airport, Pakistan. (Date taken: 12 November 2005) Low-Res | Hi-Res
20051112adf8239682_0130 Members of the Australian Defence Force humanitarian assistance team disembark from a RAAF Boeing 707 at Islamabad international airport, Pakistan. (Date taken: 12 November 2005) Low-Res | Hi-Res	20051112adf8239682_0149 Members of the Australian Defence Force humanitarian assistance team disembark from a RAAF Boeing 707 at Islamabad international airport, Pakistan. (Date taken: 12 November 2005) Low-Res | Hi-Res
20051112adf8239682_0153 Members of the Australian Defence Force humanitarian assistance team disembark from a RAAF Boeing 707 at Islamabad international airport, Pakistan. (Date taken: 12 November 2005) Low-Res | Hi-Res	20051112adf8239682_0155 Members of the Australian Defence Force humanitarian assistance team disembark from a RAAF Boeing 707 at Islamabad international airport, Pakistan. (Date taken: 12 November 2005) Low-Res | Hi-Res
20051112adf8239682_0170 Pakistan officials greet members of the Australian Defence Force humanitarian assistance team after touch down in Islamabad , Pakistan. (Date taken: 12 November 2005) Low-Res | Hi-Res	20051112adf8239682_0197 Major Isaac Seidl (right) and an Australian medical officer after the arrival in Islamabad, Pakistan, of a RAAF Boeing 707 carrying an Australian Defence Force medical team. (Date taken: 12 November 2005) Low-Res | Hi-Res
20051112adf8239682_0204 Royal Australian Air Force Warrant Officer Bailey (centre) talks to Pakistan officials about arrival formalities for the Australian Defence Force medical team in Islamabad, Pakistan. (Date taken: 12 November 2005) Low-Res | Hi-Res	20051112adf8239682_0211 Members of the Australian Defence Force medical team bound for a humanitarian aid mission in earthquake-affected areas await departure from Islamabad airport in Pakistan. (Date taken: 12 November 2005) Low-Res | Hi-Res
20051112adf8239682_0222 Members of the Australian Defence Force medical team bound for a humanitarian aid mission in earthquake-affected areas await departure from Islamabad airport in Pakistan. (Date taken: 12 November 2005) Low-Res | Hi-Res	20051112adf8239682_0224 Australian Black Hawk pilots talk to a German helicopter pilot about what to expect during their time in Pakistan as part of the international humanitarian aid mission in earthquake zones. (Date taken: 12 November 2005) Low-Res | Hi-Res
20051112adf8239682_0249 Pakistan medical liaison officer Lieutenant Colonel Qazi Abrar (left) briefs Major Isaac Seidl and Wing Commander Karen Leshinskas of the Australian Defence Force medical team in Islamabad, Pakistan. (Date taken: 12 November 2005) Low-Res | Hi-Res	20051112adf8239682_0253 Australian Black Hawk pilots talk to German and French helicopter pilots about what to expect during their time in Pakistan as part of the international humanitarian aid mission in earthquake zones. (Date taken: 12 November 2005) Low-Res | Hi-Res
20051112adf8239682_0265 Pakistan Air Force officials co-ordinate the unloading of Australian humanitarian assistance equipment, from the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) 707 in Islamabad, Pakistan. (Date taken: 12 November 2005) Low-Res | Hi-Res