The Dutch contribution to the aid operation after the Sumatra earthquake
On 6 June 2000, a Dutch-Belgian naval squadron consisting of 4 Dutch ships and a Belgian frigate, received orders to provide assistance in the disaster area on the Indonesian island of Sumatra. The squadron happened to be passing close to the affected area.
The ships provided assistance to the population of the island of Enggano and the town of Bengkulu. The troops’ tasks included distributing food and medicine and carrying out repairs on the hospital and the water supply. Onboard helicopters flew back and forth with large amounts of materiel and aid supplies. The aid operation came to an end on 8 June.
Updated: 7 April 2011