Personnel back to help typhoon victims

Two Australian Army personnel have returned to the area devastated by Typhoon Haiyan late last year, to lend a hand to locals still struggling to recover.

They were among seven ADF members – a chaplain, a planner, two environmental health officers, two preventative medical technicians and a veterinarian –
who spent a day in the town of Tacloban, providing medical treatment, paediatric care, physiotherapy, a pharmacy and veterinary care.

The team is in the Philippines as part of Exercise Balikatan.

Warrant Officer Class One Shane Campbell deployed last November as the Coordination Officer for the Support and Response Team on Operation Philippines Assist. He said the area had recovered significantly in the six months since the typhoon.

“I was looking forward to returning to Tacloban to see how the area had progressed in the last six months,” he said.

“From what it was to how it is now, the area has come forward in leaps and bounds and it is fantastic to see the progress.”

Australian Army environmental health officer Major Nathan Flindt said the Tacloban engagement provided an opportunity to continue some of the work undertaken directly after the typhoon.

“This area was devastated in the typhoon so it’s a great opportunity to be here today and see that the local population has continued down that road to recovery,” he said.

“Being here today and helping, even in some small way, to aid in that recovery is special.