BASED IN MEDAN, WORKING FOR MEULABOH

These Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) soldiers may be based in Medan, some 280 km away from the tsunami-hit town of Meulaboh, but their work is no less significant.

Since early January, soldiers, including Army combat engineers, logisticians and signallers, as well as personnel from the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) and the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF), have been coming into Medan.

Today, a headquarters (HQ) comprising about 100 soldiers has been set up here, functioning as a nerve centre for the SAF's relief efforts in Indonesia. A helicopter detachment, currently with three Chinooks and the pilots and aircrew, also operates out of Medan.

According to Chief Guards Officer and the SAF Contingent Commander, Brigadier-General (BG) Goh Kee Nguan, the HQ co-ordinates the work of the people in Meulaboh, Banda Aceh and Medan.

He said: "We want to make sure all the missions are integrated, to ensure that we bring the right supplies to the people who need them most. The HQ syncronises all such relief efforts."

"In addition, we provide support to the missions in Meulaboh and Banda Aceh. Whatever our people need, they come to us and we make the requests back to Singapore."

"After they are processed, we can then push the requests back to the theatres of operation."

An advantage of establishing the HQ in Medan is its proximity to many important players who are providing aid to the disaster victims.

They include the Governor of Northern Sumatra, the air operating centre, the United Nations (UN) and over 100 non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and international organisations (IOs).

BG Goh (left) explained: "We work with them, to understand who is doing what in Medan, and then try to connect their work with our operations in Meulaboh and Banda Aceh."

While BG Goh admits that the operation is complex and something the SAF has not dealt with before, he feels that the soldiers have risen to the challenge.

"We try our best to understand what the different agencies are doing and see what is the best role the SAF can play, to fit in with their work and the Indonesian authorities, to bring relevant assistance, to make sure our contribution here is meaningful," he added.

Although many of the soldiers in Medan are excited and enthusiastic about their work, some also have mixed emotions, wanting to operate in Meulaboh or Banda Aceh, where the more visible relief efforts are occurring.

Full-time National Serviceman, Corporal (CPL) Benjamin Ng Boon Peng (left), volunteered to follow his unit, HQ Guards, to Indonesia because he wanted to contribute to aid efforts in Meulaboh or Banda Aceh.

However he has been in Medan for nine days handling manpower work, and is unlikely to go to the tsunami-hit regions.

While he admits that a part of him feels he is missing out on this experience, he feels that his work in Medan is no less important.

"We still do a lot of work here, many of which is for the soldiers' well-being. For example, we help co-ordinate the supplies for them, and send their postcards to their loved ones in Singapore," he said.

BG Goh is glad to see such positive attitude from his soldiers: "Each of us has a role to play, some out in the field, while others are based in the HQ."

"What's important is that the soldiers know that what they do is meaningful, that they are contributing, helping our own soldiers as well as the victims of the disaster."