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Australia, UN Ending Tsunami Relief Presence in Indonesia

24 March 2005

Australia says it will end its military's humanitarian mission in Indonesia's tsunami-ravaged Aceh province on Friday.

In a statement released Thursday, Australian Defense Minister Robert Hill said the military's primary mission to restore hospital services, water and other infrastructure has been achieved.  He said the last navy vessel will leave Indonesian waters Friday.

Meanwhile, the United Nations Refugee Agency says it will also cease operations in Aceh by Friday.

The U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees said Thursday it had hoped to complete a $60 million relief plan for the province, but that the Indonesian government said its help was no longer needed.

Both groups were part of the huge international effort that followed the December 26 undersea earthquake and tsunami that killed over 230,000 people around the Indian Ocean.

Some information for this report provided by AP and AFP.

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