Transall + European C130s mobilized in South Sudan. Last call from London (Maj4)
(BRUSSELS2) After the British and the Americans, we learn that German and Italian planes as well as Dutch carried out the evacuation of several dozen nationals and Europeans from South Sudan, in the grip of a violent and generalized internal armed conflict, a real internal war.
Several German Transall rotations
On Saturday morning (December 21), a first Transall C-160 aircraft landed with more than 55 Germans and other nationals in Entebbe (Uganda). Throughout the day, several flights were operated. Another 98 people were evacuated. In the afternoon, the plane repatriated to Entebbe 43 people of different nationalities as well as the German ambassador in Juba.
Normally assigned to MINUSMA, and stationed in Dakar, Senegal, the aircraft " will resume its normal mission “As soon as the operations are completed, we specify to the Bundeswehr. Friday evening, a Bombardier BD-700 Global 5000 aircraft had already repatriated the head of the Joint Operations Command, General Hans-Werner Fritz, his companions and five other German citizens to Berlin.
Operation Ippocampo for the Italians
(Update) Italy also carried out an operation called "Ippocampo" to evacuate European nationals. Italian military personnel as well as Italian officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs carried out the operation. An Italian C-130 aircraft of the "46th Air Brigadefrom Pisa first evacuated them from the capital, Juba, to the airport in Djibouti, to the base of the Italian Armed Forces (nearing completion). From there, an army KC-767 plane air force repatriated them on Friday (December 20) to Rome Ciampino military airport.In all, 63 different nationals (including 34 Italians) were able to return to the continent.
The Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs thanked the Germans and Italians who made it possible to repatriate 5 Poles (3 by the German Transall, 2 by the Italian C-130) indicating that 9 nationals still remained in South Sudan.
A Dutch KDC 10 mobilized
A C-130 and a KDC-10 from the Koninklijke Luchtmacht (Dutch Air Force) were also mobilized. The C-130 landed at Juba airport on Saturday morning to evacuate nationals to Addis Ababa in Ethiopia. An Air Force security team was on board to ensure everyone was safe. From there, they were repatriated by a KDC-10 "Jan Scheffer" to Eindhoven where it landed on the night of Saturday to Sunday. On board, 40 Dutch and 16 people of other nationalities. " I am very relieved that everything was going so well and these people must leave the country safely », said Deputy Ambassador Paul Tholen, after setting foot on Dutch soil. One of the evacuees, Peter Buikema, testified to the difficulty there: “The situation was not very good. In the area where I was, there was a lot of fighting, so we had to take refuge in the UN compound”. But even there all was not perfect. “There was even a mortar fire inside. (...) I'm relieved to be back safely ».
Last call from the British
As for the Foreign Office, it launched a last and last appeal to its fellow citizens advising them “ strongly to leave the country immediately. « You may have difficulty staying if there is a further deterioration in security ». A third and last flight » will thus be organized in the afternoon of Monday (December 23) from Juba to Dubai. Appointment fixed at the airport before 12 noon, if possible without luggage. « This will be the last flight planned by the Foreign Office to help British nationals leave South Sudan” warn Her Majesty's diplomats. « You should be aware that it will be difficult for the UK government to provide consular assistance should the security situation deteriorate further. ». Last call!
Note that a Turkish C-130 plane was also mobilized, repatriating 21 citizens from Juba airport on December 27.
(Update) article modified Sun 22 Dec. at 11 a.m. and 00 p.m. with Italian, Polish and British news and Mon. 12 Dec. with the Netherlands - Turkish information added at the beginning of JanuaryRead also:
