CANBERRA, Mar 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) – The Australian Defence Force (ADF), apologised for its slow response to catastrophic flooding across the country’s east coast.
Major General David Thomae, national commander of the joint task force, in charge of the response to floods in southern Queensland and northern New South Wales, yesterday acknowledged some people felt abandoned by the ADF but said, the army had “done all that we can.”
The ADF has been criticised for failing to respond to calls for help from communities left isolated by the floods.
“I am very sorry for all those people who have felt that they haven’t been supported and I empathise completely with their plight,” Thomae told reporters.
At least 17 people have died, as of yesterday, and thousands of buildings have been damaged in the floods, which began late in Feb, after parts of Queensland and later New South Wales received in excess of 70 inches of rainfall in a matter of days.
The damage bill in Queensland alone is expected to surpass 2.5 billion Australian dollars (1.8 billion U.S. dollars). Thomae said, the ADF rescued 113 people from flood waters, and another 79 from roofs via helicopter.
He defended the ADF response, saying, personnel were on the ground in Queensland on day one, providing assistance “as soon as weather and conditions allowed.”
“We have to operate in a safe manner,” he said. “If our aircraft can not safely operate to get into those locations because of the conditions last week, then that explains part of what you are asking.”– NNN-AGENCIES
