BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN - Over recent years, the Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBAF) has been involved in a number of domestic natural disaster relief efforts. The RBAF has been supporting other multi-agencies members such as the Fire and Rescue Department, the Royal Brunei Police Force (RBPF) as well as other government agencies and volunteers from various NGOs in curbing natural calamities such as during floods, forest fires and landslides. Within RBAF, the support is executed under the coordination of the National Disaster Management Centre (NDMC) and the Joint Force Headquarters Royal Brunei Armed Forces (JFHQ RBAF). The availability of the standby Civil-Military Co-operation (CIMIC) Platoon in each battalion enables the RBAF to deploy its personnel in short notice and making the coordination easier.
On 14 November 2015 several low-lying areas in Brunei Darussalam were hit by flash floods due to intermittent heavy rains that fell across the country. Tutong District was badly affected causing five areas: Jalan Bangkuru in Mukim Rambai, Kg Benutan in Jalan Benutan, Jalan Kuala Ungar/Rambai, Jalan Bang Pangan Ukong and Jalan Kecil Kampong Layong flooding which rendered roads impassable and motorists stranded. Logistics and transport assets were deployed and put on standby at strategic location and affected areas for transporting and emergencies purposes. The RBAF deployed personnel from the Second Battalion Royal Brunei Land Forces (RBLF) and provided two trucks on standby at Jalan Benutan/Bangkuru to transport the residents to and fro their homes, ferry school children and government servants through the flood to move on to their daily routines. Since the Second Battalion RBLF is located in the Tutong District, it is rightful for the armed forces to lend its support to the residents in time of crisis.
Meanwhile, location outposts have been opened for transport assistance to the residents in Simpang Empat Panchong Mukim Lamunin and Simpang Panchong Kuala Ungar and areas at Jalan Sulap Samad Mukim Rambai. The assistance service was held daily from 6:00 am until 6:00 pm. After about a week, flood water levels started to recede slowly and affected roads are now accessible to vehicles including saloon vehicles. The floods have been manageable so far. However, the NDMC remains on a 24-hour watch for a possible rise in water levels throughout the monsoon season.
The RBAF are always ready to provide aid and they will heighten their support services if the condition worsens by providing transportation like trucks and boats to ferry the affected residents to a temporary and safer place. They will also coordinate for the distribution of food in affected areas and provide any assistance that has been entrusted by the District Disaster Management Centre (DDMC).
Similarly, in 2008 and 2009, the RBAF was heavily involved in providing relief operation throughout the country when Brunei Darussalam experienced one of the worst floods, landslides and strong winds. In 2014, they also committed a number of its manpower and assets to other flash floods incidents across the nation, and together they extended assistance to relief operations and flood victims.
While the initial response to a disaster and the primary responsibility for the protection of life, property and the environment in emergencies rests with the NDMC, the RBAF has demonstrated its adaptable nature and ability to respond to challenging and complex tasks – at short notice. This is testament to the quality, discipline, skills, and dedication of the RBAF in supporting the nation. Where civilian resources are beyond capacity to respond, unavailable or cannot be mobilised in time, NDMC arrangements enable the RBAF to contribute in order to save human life, alleviate suffering and prevent loss of life or property.
Such assistance is not only aimed at fostering good relations between the RBAF and the community, but it is stapled as the Ministry of Defence and RBAF corporate social responsibility in delivering a multi-role armed forces capable of responding to any eventualities, undertaking a wide range of challenges, natural disaster relief and support operations, more rapidly, effectively and jointly, with sufficient levels of readiness, interoperability and mobility. These challenges are possible to address, given the commitment and experiences the RBAF have gained after almost 55 years of its establishment.
