Present at the airport to bid farewell was His Royal Highness Prince Mohamed Bolkiah, Brunei’s Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Present to greet and welcome His Majesty at the Sultan Iskandar Muda Military Airfield, Banda Aceh, were Dr Alwi Abdurrahman Shihab, the Coordinating Minister for the People's Welfare of Indonesia, and other local dignitaries consisting of the Acting Governor of Aceh Province, Commander of the Indonesian Armed Forces in Aceh, Head of the Provincial Police Force, Head of the Judiciary of Aceh Province as well as the Attorney-General of Aceh Province.

Also present to greet and welcome His Majesty at the airport was Dato Seri Setia Dr Awang Haji Mohd Amin, the Ambassador of Brunei to Indonesia.

Before visiting the areas affected by the earthquakes and the giant tsunami waves, His Majesty was briefed by Dr Alsi Abdurrahman Shihab, the Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare, and Haji Azwar Abu Bakar, Vice Governor of Aceh Province, as well as other local officials.

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The first stop in His Majesty's itinerary was the beach area in Bandar Aceh and the important places affected by the calamities such as the Baitur Rahman and Baitur Rahim Mosques.

At these two mosques, while witnessing the effects of the calamities, His Majesty presented copies of the Islamic holy book Al-Quran.

From Banda Aceh, His Majesty left for Sabang in We Island, with His Majesty piloting one of the Blackhawk helicopters owned by the Royal Brunei Armed Forces stationed in the area.

On arrival at the Maimun Salleh Military Airfield, His Majesty was greeted and welcomed by the Mayor of Sabang and local officials as well as officers and staff of the contingent from Brunei.

In Sabang, His Majesty was briefed by the heads of the contingent from Brunei.

This was followed with His Majesty meeting some of the contingent members comprising of the personnel of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces, the medical officers and staff of the Ministry of Health and officers and staff of the Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Foundation.

From that area, His Majesty then visited the hospitals where residents affected by the calamities were treated under the supervision of medical officers and staff of Brunei's Ministry of Health and the Royal Brunei Armed Forces.

In the hospital, His Majesty had a chance to visit two children injured during the disaster and now under the care of the medical officers and staff of the Brunei Ministry of Health.

From the Sabang hospital, His Majesty piloted one of the helicopters to observe from the air the affected areas in the North-Western region of Sumatra.

This region is most affected by the earthquakes and the giant tsunami waves.

Before leaving for Banda Aceh, His Majesty stopped over at Tepin Rambot, where the Royal Brunei Armed Forces has its regimental aid post.

At Tepin Rambot, His Majesty was also briefed on the destruction and had a chance to meet the officers and staff of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces and the Ministry of Health.

There are 187 temporary camps in Tepin Rambot, which accommodate about 570 occupants.

His Majesty the Sultan of Brunei left the Sultan Iskandar Muda Military Airfield, Banda Aceh, yesterday afternoon after completing the one-day visit of the areas affected by the earthquakes and the giant tsunami waves and personally observing the work done by the contingent especially sent from Brunei to the Aceh province. -- Courtesy of Radio Television Brunei