24 November 2005
Prime Minister visits Operation Pakistan Assist team

An Australian Defence Force medical team of about 140 personnel 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 ADF medical team quickly began work in the remote earthquake-devastated town of Dhanni, about 20km northeast of Muzaffarabad, on the Pakistan side of the Kashmir Line Of Control.

Four Australian Army Black Hawk helicopters are being deployed to Pakistan to provide essential transport and support tasks for the ADF medical team. The helicopters will give the team mobility to extend assistance from the central medical facility at Dhanni to remote communities of the region, where earthquake damage has worsened the difficulties of limited road access, mountainous terrain and harsh winter weather.

The composition and skills of the team deployed reflect the extensive experience of the Australian Defence Force in providing humanitarian assistance in remote regions of other countries affected by natural disasters.

The ADF team includes a command element, aviation detachment, logistics and communications. Most of the health and support personnel are drawn from the Army logistic support force based at Randwick Barracks, Sydney. The medical team is supplemented by an Air Force primary health care team from Richmond, New South Wales. Other personnel are drawn from a range of units across Australia, including Reserves. The Black Hawk detachment is mostly from the Australian Army 5th Aviation Regiment, based in Townsville.

20051123adf8239682_0571 The Prime Minister, John Howard, and Mrs Howard meet in Islamabad with (from centre to right) Major David Hafner, Lieutenant Colonel Brett Greenland, and Colonel Andy Sims, the commanding officer of the humanitarian assistance mission of Operation Pakistan Assist. (Date taken: 23 November 2005) Low-Res | Hi-Res	20051123adf8239682_0572 The Prime Minister, John Howard, and Mrs Howard meet in Islamabad with (from centre to right) Major David Hafner, Lieutenant Colonel Brett Greenland, and Colonel Andy Sims, the commanding officer of the humanitarian assistance mission of Operation Pakistan Assist. (Date taken: 23 November 2005) Low-Res | Hi-Res
20051123adf8239682_0573 The Prime Minister, John Howard, and Mrs Howard meet in Islamabad with (from centre to right) Major David Hafner, Lieutenant Colonel Brett Greenland, and Colonel Andy Sims, the commanding officer of the humanitarian assistance mission of Operation Pakistan Assist. (Date taken: 23 November 2005) Low-Res | Hi-Res	20051123adf8239682_0574 Prime Minister John Howard meets in Islamabad with Major David Hafner of the Australian Army 5th Aviation Regiment and other Defence personnel deployed for humanitarian assistance under Operation Pakistan Assist. (Date taken: 23 November 2005) Low-Res | Hi-Res
20051123adf8239682_0589 The Prime Minister, John Howard, arrives in "Camp Bradman" in the town of Dhanni, where Australian Defence Force members are providing humanitarian assistance in the earthquake-affected region on the Pakistan side of the Kashmir Line Of Control. (Date taken: 23 November 2005) Low-Res | Hi-Res	20051123adf8239682_0590 The Prime Minister, John Howard, arrives in "Camp Bradman" in the town of Dhanni, where Australian Defence Force members are providing humanitarian assistance in the earthquake-affected region on the Pakistan side of the Kashmir Line Of Control. (Date taken: 23 November 2005) Low-Res | Hi-Res
20051123adf8239682_067 The Prime Minister, John Howard, arrives in Dhanni to visit the Australian Defence Force team providing humanitarian assistance in the earthquake-affected region on the Pakistan side of the Kashmir Line Of Control. (Date taken: 23 November 2005) Low-Res | Hi-Res	20051123adf8239682_089 The Prime Minister of Australia, John Howard, enjoys a quick game of cricket with Australian and Pakistan troops and locals of Dhanni during his visit to the earthquake-affected region on the Pakistan side of the Kashmir Line Of Control. (Date taken: 23 November 2005) Low-Res | Hi-Res
20051123adf8239682_099 The Prime Minister of Australia, John Howard, enjoys a quick game of cricket with Australian and Pakistan troops and locals of Dhanni during his visit to the earthquake-affected region on the Pakistan side of the Kashmir Line Of Control. (Date taken: 23 November 2005) Low-Res | Hi-Res	20051123adf8239682_125 The Prime Minister of Australia, John Howard, meets schoolchildren in an Australian Defence Force health care centre during his visit to Dhanni, in the earthquake-affected region on the Pakistan side of the Kashmir Line Of Control. (Date taken: 23 November 2005) Low-Res | Hi-Res
20051123adf8239682_184 The Prime Minister, John Howard, arrives in Dhanni to visit the Australian Defence Force team providing humanitarian assistance in the earthquake-affected region on the Pakistan side of the Kashmir Line Of Control. (Date taken: 23 November 2005) Low-Res | Hi-Res	20051123adf8239682_246 The Prime Minister, John Howard, meets members of the Australian Defence Force team providing humanitarian assistance in Dhanni, in the earthquake-affected region on the Pakistan side of the Kashmir Line Of Control. (Date taken: 23 November 2005) Low-Res | Hi-Res
20051123adf8239682_277 The Prime Minister, John Howard, and Chief of Defence Force Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston (standing, third from left) with the Australian Defence Force team providing humanitarian assistance in Dhanni, in the earthquake-affected region on the Pakistan side of the Kashmir Line Of Control. (Date taken: 23 November 2005) Low-Res | Hi-Res	20051123adf8239682_283 The Prime Minister, John Howard, and colleagues look on as the Chief of the Defence Force, Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston, promotes Signaller Daniel Marsden to Lance Corporal. Lance Corporal Marsden, age 26, of Sydney, is serving in the Australian Defence Force team providing humanitarian assistance under Operation Pakistan Assist. (Date taken: 23 November 2005) Low-Res | Hi-Res
20051123adf8239682_296 The Prime Minister of Australia, John Howard, gives a media conference during his visit to Dhanni, in the earthquake-affected region on the Pakistan side of the Kashmir Line Of Control. (Date taken: 23 November 2005) Low-Res | Hi-Res	20051123adf8239682_328 The Prime Minister of Australia, John Howard, meets a child patient and medical personnel in an Australian Defence Force health care centre during his visit to Dhanni, in the earthquake-affected region on the Pakistan side of the Kashmir Line Of Control. (Date taken: 23 November 2005) Low-Res | Hi-Res
20051123adf8239682_334 The Prime Minister of Australia, John Howard, meets a child patient in an Australian Defence Force health care centre during his visit to Dhanni, in the earthquake-affected region on the Pakistan side of the Kashmir Line Of Control. (Date taken: 23 November 2005) Low-Res | Hi-Res