Head of Information Service of Fleet Command III, Lieutenant Colonel Ajik Sismianto, stated on Monday that the warship arrived on Sunday. Papua New Guinea is the last country for the task force humanitarian mission after Solomon Islands, Fiji, and Vanuatu.
In Papua New Guinea, the task force is scheduled to conduct several activities such as ship visit by the community, free health check-up and medical treatment on the ship, community service, and the handover of medical aid packages from the Indonesian Government to the Papua New Guinea Government.
In the welcoming ceremony, Indonesian Ambassador to Papua New Guinea Andriana Supandy welcomed the crew of KRI WSH-991 and personnel of the 2024 Pacific Port Visit Task Force.
"Thank you for your visit, devotion, and dedication in carrying out the mission of diplomatic relations in countries in the South Pacific region, including Papua New Guinea," he remarked.
He then lauded the social service programs carried out by the Pacific Port Visit Task Force, including church renovation and the delivery of medical aid packages.
"This will add to Indonesia's good image," he remarked.
On a separate occasion, Commander of the Fleet Command III, Rear Admiral Hersan, explained that the goodwill and humanitarian mission conducted by the Task Force was a form of the Indonesian Navy's support for the government's foreign policy.
"This diplomatic mission also aims to build confidence and trust with countries in the region," Hersan noted, as quoted in a statement from his office.
The Pacific Port Visit Task Force, led by Colonel Arif Prasetyo Irbianto, began its voyage to four countries in the South Pacific on October 9, 2024.
During the voyage, KRI WSH-991 carried a total of 177 personnel, comprising 141 crew members and 36 staff from the Task Force consisting of a team of divers, security forces, general practitioners and specialist doctors, students from Papua, and information officers from the Indonesian Navy Information Service.
The total voyage is scheduled to last for 48 days until KRI WSH-991 finally returns to its base in Sorong, Southwest Papua.
KRI WSH-991 is a hospital support ship under the control of the Indonesian Navy's Fleet Command III.
Related news: Warship finishes humanitarian mission in Vanuatu, sails to PNG
Translator: Genta Tenri M, Resinta Sulistiyandari
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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