Unidentified soldiers of the Philippine and Australian Army eat a meal in a base mess.The ...

Unidentified soldiers of the Philippine and Australian Army eat a meal in a base mess.The Filipino soldiers are members of the Philippine Humanitarian Support Mission to East Timor (PHILHSMET), which also includes engineers, doctors, nurses and dentists. The Philippine contingent provides humanitarian support for the East Timorese people through medical and dental services, rehabilitation projects, livelihood education and public works. PHILHSMET is carrying out its humanitarian work under the Australian-led International Force for East Timor (INTERFET) and regularly receives supplies from Dili, transported by the Australian Army. Following the overwhelming vote for independence by the East Timorese on 30 August 1999 in the United Nations (UN) sponsored referendum, the pro-Indonesian militia launched a campaign of destruction, arson and murder, killing approximately 1500 people and forcing 300 000 others into West Timor as refugees. On 15 September, the UN issued a resolution, calling for a multinational force to restore peace and security and facilitate humanitarian assistance operations. By 20 September 1999, the first coalition force began deploying to East Timor as part of INTERFET. Five months later in February 2000, INTERFET handed control of military operations over to the United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor (UNTAET), who were to maintain security, establish an effective administration and develop civil and social services.