Pacific Partnership arrives in East Timor
21 June 2011
The Pacific Partnership 2011 (PP11) team has arrived in East Timor to begin the fourth phase of its humanitarian assistance/disaster response mission.
With representatives from Australia, Japan, Malaysia, Canada, France, Spain and the United States, the contingent arrived in Dili and Oecussi on 15 June.
“East Timor will give us a chance to not only provide assistance to the community with sustainable projects, but also give the partner nations the chance to work closely alongside the people of East Timor,” said the Commander PP11 Australian Contingent, CMDR Ashley Papp.
The PP11 team will also work closely with Australian Defence Force personnel deployed in support of the International Stabilisation Force (ISF) under Operation ASTUTE.
The amphibious transport-dock ship United States Ship (USS) Cleveland is the flagship for the mission, with Royal Australian Navy Landing Craft Heavy ships HMAS Betano and HMAS Balikpapan providing transportation services for the team to the more remote parts of East Timor.
Betano and Balikpapan have already proved their worth – transporting a team of medical, dental and veterinarian personnel to East Timor in advance of USS Cleveland’s arrival.
Over the course of the last two months, the Pacific Partnership team has treated more than 20,000 patients, completed ten engineering projects, cared for nearly 1,000 animals, engaged in nearly 30 community service projects, and developed countless friendships and smiles in Tonga, Vanuatu and Papua New Guinea.
“Working with the people of East Timor, we will provide engineering, dental, medical and veterinary civic action projects and subject matter expert exchanges,” said US Navy Captain Jesse A Wilson, Pacific Partnership Mission Commander and Commander, Destroyer Squadron 23.
“The last three mission ports were a great success and we are looking forward to continuing the Pacific Partnership mission in East Timor.”
PP11 is an annual Humanitarian Civic Assistance program sponsored by the Commander US Pacific Fleet. The Australian Defence Force (ADF) has played a significant role in this our sixth year of participation.
One of the projects will be the renovation of a gymnasium that serves not only as a community centre for recreation, but is also an evacuation point in the event of a natural disaster.
Community service is also another key component of the mission. Medical equipment, toys, water filters, and personal hygiene items that have all been donated, will be distributed to the local community.
During the past five years, Pacific Partnership has provided medical, dental, veterinary, educational, and preventive medicine services to more than 230,000 people and completed more than 150 engineering projects in 15 countries.
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