Speaking moments after a video showing the horror and heartbreak of the tsunami, the minister thanked medical relief workers for their 'overwhelming' response.

'Some closed their clinics, some took leave, some took on extra duties of colleagues to free them to volunteer,' he said.

Parkway Group Healthcare's team in Sri Lanka, SingHealth's team at Meulaboh and relief workers from City Harvest Church, Mercy Relief and Alexandra Hospital at Banda Aceh were singled out for mention.

'You kept our Singapore flag flying high. You earned the respect of those you have helped with your humility and sensitivity to local customs,' Mr Khaw said.

Slowly, personal stories of hard work and heroism emerged. Mr Khaw told of Dr Gilbert Lau, whose forensic team at Phuket managed to lift fingerprints from decomposed bodies, a task many had dismissed as impossible.

Alexandra Hospital's deputy director of operations Ng Kian Swan cut short his honeymoon and rushed to Aceh to help build a ward for critically ill adult patients at a local hospital. It was christened the Flower of Hope ward.

Dr Yim Chik Foo, also from Alexandra Hospital, worked at the same ward and was cited by Mr Khaw as a 'philosopher' for his thoughtful e-mail messages on his experiences at Aceh.

While grateful for Mr Khaw's effusive praise, volunteers such as Mr Ng, 43, humbly told The Straits Times that their response, once they were in the affected areas, was simply human nature.

'Once you see the extent of the devastation and the plight of the people, doing your best to help just comes naturally,' he said.

Dr Yim, on his part, remembers touring the intensive care ward the Singapore team helped set up, wondering: 'Who will die tonight?'

Many of the patients were suffering from tetanus, a possibly fatal disease which is easily treated in any modern hospital.

'Just putting the patients on a ventilator would have helped, but in those early days there were none,' said the 41-year-old anaesthetist. The Singapore team later set up breathing machines in the ward, which saved many lives.

Dr Yim also remembers a patient who sang of dawn breaking, but without birds in the sky, once she learnt she had lost everyone in her family but her sister. 'The emotional wounds will take so much longer to heal,' he said.

Speaking to reporters at the event, held at The Legends - Fort Canning Park, Mr Khaw said Singapore's assistance to Aceh would continue, with plans to build a hospital there gaining steam.

'We have already made our offer to the Indonesian government, which is still finalising the masterplan for the rebuilding of Aceh,' said Mr Khaw. 'Our contribution must answer to local needs.'

Their reply is expected in the next few weeks, he added.