SINGAPORE MEDICAL TEAM IN SAUDI ARABIA (Cost)

The following Question stood in the name of Dr Lee Siew-Choh -

To ask the Prime Minister and Minister for Defence what is the cost of keeping the Singapore medical team in Saudi Arabia and whether there was any request from anybody for a medical team to be sent from Singapore.

Mr S. Chandra Das (Cheng San GRC): Question No. 1, Sir.

The Second Minister for Defence (Dr Yeo Ning Hong) (for the Prime Minister and Minister for Defence): Mr Speaker, Sir, the Government sent a team of 30 SAF officers and men to Saudi Arabia in response to a British request, and with the agreement of the Government of Saudi Arabia. It did so in accordance with UN Security Council Resolution 678. The Resolution requires "all States to provide support for the actions" undertaken to further efforts "to uphold and implement Resolution 660 (1990) and all subsequent relevant resolutions and to restore international peace and security in the area."

Our purpose was humanitarian. We expected many casualties when war broke out. The team's mission was to provide medical care for all who needed it, regardless of nationality. Several other countries, including South Korea, Sweden, Norway and Poland, also sent similar medical teams to Saudi Arabia.

The team was attached to a British Field Hospital. The British provided all administrative and logistical support.

As far as cost is concerned, the estimated cost is $630,000 so far. However, the final cost of the entire mission will only be known after the team has returned.

Mr Charles Chong (Sembawang GRC): Sir, could the Minister tell us whether the lives of our officers and men were ever in danger during the period of assignment in Saudi Arabia?

Dr Yeo Ning Hong: Sir, the team was deployed away from the scene of actual combat. But they were in the war zone. They were in the vicinity of Riyadh. And Members who have followed the Gulf war will know that Riyadh came under regular attacks by Scud missiles. Yes, the team did put their lives on the line in the execution of their duties on this particular occasion. Notwithstanding that, the morale of the team was high. They demonstrated a high level of commitment and dedication to the task in hand.

Sir, our regular national servicemen and reservists who make up this team have done us proud and they deserve our every support. I am happy to note that the survey published by the Sunday Times a few weeks back showed that 90% of Singaporeans supported our mission.

Mr Chandra Das: Sir, can I ask the Minister when the medical team is expected to return to Singapore?

Dr Yeo Ning Hong: Sir, the British Field Hospital that the medical team was attached to has decided that the mission has been completed and they will be returning to the United Kingdom very shortly. I expect our team will also be coming back to Singapore shortly, maybe some time this week.