OPERATION PLES DRAI PAPUA NEW GUINEA DROUGHT

THE PNG AND AUSTRALIAN DEFENCE FORCES WORKING TOGETHER FOR THE PEOPLE OF PNG DURING THE 1997 – 1998 DROUGHT

MILITARY WORKS TO FIGHT DROUGHT EFFECTS

The PNGDF, Royal PNG Constabulary and the Australian Defence Forces are working together to assist PNG Government efforts to provide drought relief to the nation’s most remote locations.

In Port Moresby a Combined Operations Cell headed by Lieutenant Colonel John Navi of the PNGDF has been set up to co-ordinate the PNGDF and ADF involvement in the relief operations.

Throughout the country Police officers are accompanying flights into drought stricken communities to assist with the orderly distribution of aid and Australian pilots and soldiers have expressed their gratitude for the police presence.

Officer Commanding Charlie Squadron of the 5th Aviation Regiment, currently based at Kiunga, Major Glenn McCall, said he believed the police officers were a welcome and necessary part of the drought relief flights.

"The Constabulary have done a fantastic job out here. We haven’t had any incidents in Western Province and it’s great to have these guys fly with us. They know the area and the people and are an enormous help," Maj McCall said.

In Western Province CH-47 Chinook helicopters from Charlie Squadron transport rice, flour and cooking oil to people in need in outlying communities. Currently they are assigned the task of delivering 8857 20kg bags of rice, 1742 bags of flour and 3750 litres of oil to communities in Western Province each month.

The sheer size of the Chinook means that it can’t be a one person job. The load masters and the pilots rely on each other to get the helicopter flying while at the same time they rely on the local police to help with crowd control. The team work which the Army and Police Force instills in every member is paramount for successful operations.

By: Captain Chip Henriss-Anderssen - November 13 ,1997

Military Works to fight Drought Effects Picture Gallery.