Australian Government to Provide Assistance with Forest Fires
10/24/97
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Headline: Australian Government to Provide Assistance with Forest Fires
Source: Australian Aid
Date: 10/24/97
AusAID Update 24/10/97
AUSTRALIAN AID - INDONESIAN FOREST FIRES
The Australian Government has committed an initial
$2million to provide assistance to Indonesia during
the current crisis caused by the large forest fires
burning across many parts of the archipelago. The
Australian contribution, provided through AusAID,
the Government's overseas aid agency, has supported
the mobilisation of three Australian expert teams
in aerial water-bombing, fire management and health
assessment.
The two Australian aerial water-bombing planes are
continuing to fly sorties attacking fires in
Lampung Province in southern Sumatra. A changeover
of crew from the South Australian Country Fire
Service early in the week proceeded smoothly with
the replacement crew welcomed to the capital,
Bandar Lampung, by provincial officials. An
eleven-person team, including two pilots, is
operating from Bandar Lampung airport supported by
a four- person team in Jakarta.
The team reports that (as of 17.00 hrs yesterday,
23/10) 332 successful sorties have been flown since
the operation began on 8 October with 972 tonnes of
fire suppressant dumped on fires.
The Fire Management Team, largely from the NSW
Rural Fire Service, has recommended that the top
priority for continuing Australian assistance to
Indonesia be the training and equipping of ground
fire-fighting teams. Their report was compiled in
close consultation with Indonesian authorities and
the United Nations Disaster Assessment and
Coordination (UNDAC) Mission which is coordinating
international assistance to help Indonesia to deal
with the crisis. Field visits by team members
focussed on Irian Jaya and the southern tip of
Sumatra. In southern Sumatra, where local ground
fire-fighting operations were observed, the team
reported an urgent need for training and basic
equipment provision. The six- person Fire
Management Team has returned to Australia and their
recommendations are currently being pursued by
AusAID.
The Health Assessment Team, fielded from the
Australian Red Cross, has recommended a range of
possible health interventions in drought-affected
Irian Jaya. The four team members remain in
Indonesia and are working closely with Indonesian
health authorities, the World Health Organization
and the Indonesian Red Cross.
Media contact: Geoff Adlide, AusAID Public Affairs,
02 6206 4967 / 0417 683126