09 February 2006
Imagery from Operation Pakistan Assist

An Australian Defence Force medical team is working in Pakistan and Kashmir as part of a humanitarian mission to provide vital health care assistance to people affected by the 8 October 2005 South Asia earthquakes. The team has established a medical centre at the remote town of Dhanni, about 20km north-east of Muzaffarabad, on the Pakistan side of the Kashmir Line Of Control.

The team, of about 140 personnel, includes medical personnel, a command element, an aviation detachment and logistics and communication personnel. Four Black Hawk helicopters are deployed to provide essential transport and support tasks.

The helicopters give the ADF team the mobility to extend medical care from the central hub at Dhanni to assist a large number of people in the harsh terrain of the surrounding region who need medical attention as a result of the earthquake.

The Black Hawk detachment is primarily from the Australian Army 5th Aviation Regiment based in Townsville. The health and support personnel comprise members of the Army's logistic support force based at Randwick Barracks, Sydney; a Royal Australian Air Force primary health care team from Richmond, New South Wales; and personnel drawn from a range of units across Australia, including Reserves.

20060201adf8195319_010 Private Sheyna Veal holds a new born baby outside a village house in Kailgiran in the Neelum Valley. A small detachment of medical personnel went to the remote village of Kailgiran, high in the mountains as part of operation Longreach, taking humanitarian medical aid to remote villages. (Date taken: 01 February 2006) Low-Res | Hi-Res	20060201adf8195319_011 Major Raffaele Scicchitano reviews an X-ray during Operation Longreach to the village of Kailgiran, high in the Himalayan Mountains. The Medical team were part of a regular operation taking humanitarian medical aid to remote villages in the Neelum Valley. (Date taken: 01 February 2006) Low-Res | Hi-Res
20060201adf8195319_017 Major Raffaele Scicchitano examines a local villager during Operation Longreach to the village of Kailgiran, high in the Himalayan Mountains. The Medical team were part of a regular operation taking humanitarian medical aid to remote villages in the Neelum Valley. (Date taken: 01 February 2006) Low-Res | Hi-Res	20060201adf8195319_019 The face says it all: A local boy is vaccinated by Corporal Peter Lonergan during Operation Longreach to the village of Kailgiran in the Neelum Valley, taking humanitarian medical aid to remote villages in the Neelum Valley. (Date taken: 01 February 2006) Low-Res | Hi-Res
20060201adf8195319_027 A universal fear of needles: Local children from the remote village of Kailgiran await their turn for vaccinations during the recent medical team visit. A small detachment of medical personnel went to the remote village of Kailgiran, high in the mountains of the Neelum Valley, as part of operation Longreach, taking humanitarian medical aid to remote villages. (Date taken: 01 February 2006) Low-Res | Hi-Res	20060201adf8195319_029 Drawing-up: Lieutenant James Keam (Left) Wing Commander Karen Leshinskas (Centre) and Major Tanya Bennett draw-up vaccinations for local children in the remote village of Kailgiran. (Date taken: 01 February 2006) Low-Res | Hi-Res
20060201adf8195319_031 Local villagers wait in front of the ruins of their hospital, to see Australian medical personnel during a recent visit to their village. A small detachment of medical personnel went to the remote village of Kailgiran, high in the mountains as part of operation Longreach, taking humanitarian medical aid to remote villages. (Date taken: 01 February 2006) Low-Res | Hi-Res	20060201adf8195319_033 The stark reallity: After the earthquake, this is all that is left of the local school in the remote mountain village of Kailgiran, high in the Neelum Valley. (Date taken: 01 February 2006) Low-Res | Hi-Res
20060201adf8195319_034 The stark reallity: After the earthquake, this is all that is left of the local school in the remote mountain village of Kailgiran, high in the Neelum Valley. (Date taken: 01 February 2006) Low-Res | Hi-Res	20060201adf8195319_052 Cameraman Greg Barbera (Centre) from the Australian 60 minutes program, films the Australian medical team unloading equipment for their Operation Longreach visit to the remote mountain village of Kailgiran, high in the Neelum Valley. (Date taken: 01 February 2006) Low-Res | Hi-Res