The three Chinook helicopters deployed by the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) to northern Sumatra of Indonesia on March 29, one day after a great earthquake rocked the area, returned home Monday evening.

The Defense Ministry said that the SAF has completed its emergency relief mission in the disaster areas, while Singapore's volunteer groups and non-governmental organizations including the Red Cross will continue offering humanitarian assistance there.

The Chinooks flew 49 missions in 12 days after their first sortie on March 30, ferrying between Medan and the surrounding islands such as Nias and Simeulue 870 civilian and military rescue workers from Singapore, the United Nations and other countries.

The helicopters also helped evacuate 70 injured people from Nias to Medan for further medical treatment and transport some 95 tons of relief supplies, including generators, food, water, water purification units and medical supplies, into disaster-affected areas.

The ministry noted that the SAF worked closely with the Indonesian Armed Forces (TNI) and Indonesian authorities in carrying out their relief efforts in Nias, as a result of the long-standing friendship and cooperation between the two armies.

The SAF medical team, deployed together with the Chinooks, came back earlier on April 8, according to the ministry.
 
(Xinhua News Agency April 12, 2005)