NZ medical team heads into disaster area

JAKARTA - Almost two weeks after the tsunami disaster devastated the Aceh region of Indonesia a New Zealand defence force medical team was finally due to start work today.

The 30-strong team has been cooling its heels in Malaysia for some days, but is now ready to get down to work caring for the injured, many of whom remain untreated 12 days after waves generated by a massive earthquake swept over the coastline.

Foreign Affairs Minister Phil Goff said the delays were beyond New Zealand's control as the team was to work as part of a larger Australasian deployment and conditions had to be right.

The New Zealanders will be working in a 90-bed hospital and their presence will ensure that staff can work in shifts.

"They will be doing basic medical work tending to injuries, but they will also be working in the public health sector as well," Mr Goff said.

"One of the real threats at this point is the loss of life, not from the tsunami and the injuries caused by it, but the disease threat that exists after such an event with pollution of water supplies. Obviously preventing that second wave of fatalities and illness is really important at this time."

The medical team's initial deployment will be for 30 days, after which the situation will be reviewed.

Mr Goff said it made sense to work alongside the larger Australian defence forces as it made aid delivery more efficient and effective both in the medical and transport area.

"It has been great to see the Anzac tradition reborn here in the work we are doing alongside the Australians," Mr Goff said.

Not all of the aid transportation had gone smoothly, with one load and Mr Goff left stranded in Jakarta yesterday after a breakdown on a Hercules meant it could not leave for Aceh.

The latest in a long-running saga of problems with the Hercules fleet was described by Mr Goff as "one of those things" that happened because the plane had been worked so hard bringing aid into Aceh and bringing refugees out.

The Hercules is set to resume its work on Sunday.

- NZPA