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EUROPE
15 Oct 13. Afghanistan: OP HERRICK. A Lance Corporal from the Intelligence Corps was killed in action during a fire fight in the Nahr-e Saraj District on 15 Oct 13. (MoD, 15 Oct 13.) UK deaths since the start of Operations thus rose to 445, of whom 402 were killed due to hostile action.
From 1 Jan 06 to 30 Sep 13, 2,165 personnel were Wounded in Action and 6,970 were aeromedically evacuated. (DASA, 17 Oct 13.) In September 2013, the figures were 14 and 43 respectively.
The North Atlantic Council review covering the conduct of NATO-led Operations will be released shortly after the NATO Defence Ministers meeting on 22/23 Oct 13. (Written Answer (WA), 14 Oct 13.)
The Chief of the Defence Staff is currently reviewing the findings of the US report on security at Camp Bastion. (WA, 14 Oct 13.)
The MoD has re-homed some 360 dogs during the past three years and currently has 150 people waiting to offer a home to a suitable dog. (House of Lords, 14 Oct 13.)
Before any Operational deployment, all UK Armed Forces personnel receive a detailed legal briefing as part of
their comprehensive pre-deployment training. (WA, 15 Oct 13.)
Policing in Helmand Province has entered a new phase as the MoD.s mentoring team returns from Afghanistan for the last time. The MoD Police have had a continuous presence in Afghanistan since January 2008. (Media Ops, 18 Oct 13.)
As base closures and handovers continue in Helmand, the flow of equipment through Camp Bastion and out of Afghanistan is well underway. (MoD, 18 Oct 13.)
Comment: The International Development Secretary made a statement in the House of Commons “on the Government’s progress in Afghanistan”. The statement and subsequent discussion is recorded in „Hansard. for 17 Oct 13, starting at Column 911. (Source: DNA DEFENCE NEWS ANALYSIS, Issue 13/41, 21 Oct 13)
14 Oct 13. Syria: Joint Mission Established. The UK is leading international efforts to alleviate human suffering in Syria and has regular meetings with representatives of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees. (WA, 14 Oct 13.)
The UK has pledged £500m to help provide essential items to the people in dire need in Syria and the region.
The UK is currently supporting: food for 320,000 people a month, approximately 316,000 medical consultations
and basic essential items for 342,000 people across Syria. (WA, 14 Oct 13.)
The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) and the UN announced that their Joint Mission in Syria was established on 16 Oct 13. The Joint Mission has been established “in order to achieve the timely elimination of the Syrian chemical weapons programme”. The OPCW and the UN have now conducted verification activities at 11 sites. (UN Briefing, 16 Oct 13.)
The UK is currently supplying various items of non-lethal equipment to the political, military and humanitarian wings of the National Coalition of Syrian Revolution and Opposition Forces. (WA, 17 Oct 13.)
The human rights situation in Syria has continued to deteriorate in the period between July and September 2013. (FCO, 17 Oct 13.)
The Joint Mission (OPCW & UN) reports that inspection activities have been conducted at 14 sites so far. (UN Briefing, 18 Oct 13.)
Comment: The Foreign Secretary announced (18 Oct 13) that the ‘London 11’ Foreign Ministers are to meet in London on 22 Oct 13 to discuss the crisis in Syria. The ‘London 11’ is the Core Group of the Friends of Syria: Egypt, France, Germany, Italy, Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, the UAE, the UK and the US. (Source: DNA DEFENCE NEWS ANALYSIS, Issue 13/41, 21 Oct 13)
16 Oct 13. Marchwood Military Port: Sale Preparations. The Defence Equipment Minister said (16 Oct 13) that consideration is being giv