Aerial view of mountains on the island of Guadalcanal, taken from an Australian army helicopter ...

Aerial view of mountains on the island of Guadalcanal, taken from an Australian army helicopter flying along the Weather Coast of the island. The remote Weather Coast was the region most badly affected by the activities of armed militant groups, prior to the arrival of the Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands (RAMSI) in July 2003. It was the main field of operations for the Guadalcanal Liberation Front, led by Harold Keke, which forced hundreds of villagers to flee their homes. The rugged terrain ensures that access to the region is difficult: RAMSI forces relied on access by air and sea, as no road links the area to the capital, Honiara. UH-1H helicopters belonging to 171 Operational Support Squadron, 1st Aviation Regiment, deployed under Operation Anode, helped provide transport of equipment and personnel. Following the arrest of Harold Keke on the Weather Coast on 13 August 2003, RAMSI established police posts, and humanitarian relief operations started.