SAF COMBAT ENGINEERS ASSIST NZ RESIDENTS

Since 1 Mar, five Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) combat engineers have been out and about Christchurch, New Zealand, helping residents to stabilise their houses. Working with their counterparts from the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF), the five men worked on about six houses every day.

They were deployed with the NZDF engineers to the Christchurch suburbs where they assisted the local authorities in removing debris and carrying minor repair works to buildings affected by the earthquake.

City authorities declared the beginning of a recovery phase on 3 Mar, and much of the relief efforts will focus on rebuilding lives disrupted by the 22 Feb earthquake.

When cyberpioneer spoke to the SAF servicemen on 3 Mar, they were working on houses on Mount Pleasant, a residential area some 14km south-east of downtown Christchurch. "We remove the unstable structures before they fall and hurt people," said 2nd Sergeant Jason Low Tian Chai, one of the five combat engineers deployed.

Added 1st Sergeant (1SG) Lee Guoli: "It's been a good experience here. We are working on unfamiliar structures but the principles we learnt during our training still apply. And the residents are thankful for our assistance."

"The Singaporean guys are very motivated. They learn fast and have been a tremendous help out here," said Corporal Damon White of the 2nd Field Squadron, Royal New Zealand Engineers.

Mount Pleasant resident, Mr John Bissett, had a garage which was removed by the soldiers as it was threatening to cut off access into the house next door. Soldiers pulled down the garage with a truck winch, a 10-minute operation which had its own set of challenges.

Said Mr Bissett: "We were told to stand clear of the winch cable as the soldiers wound the system up, as the wire could snap and cut you clean in half."

He added: "The community has been devastated by the quake and the army guys have been absolutely wonderful. Words can't describe what the Singaporean army and NZDF have done for us here."

This was just one the houses that SAF and NZDF soldiers worked on that day. They had earlier removed a teetering exterior wall from a house.

In support of ongoing NZDF relief operations, the SAF team continues to assist the NZDF with cordon operations to ensure the safety and security of the residents whose lives and homes have been affected by the earthquake.

As part of Singapore's assistance in the relief effort, one of the two Republic of Singapore Air Force C-130 transport aircraft there was also dispatched to assist the NZDF in flying supplies from Auckland to Christchurch on 3 Mar.

The five SAF combat engineers will head out to the Christchurch suburbs again today, after a day's rest on 4 Mar.