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EUROPE
18 Nov 13. Afghanistan: OP HERRICK. The first landing of a commercial flight at Bost Airfield was in June 2009 and there are currently three
commercial flights per week. Bost Airfield is not used for freight transport. (Written Answers (WA), 18 Nov 13.)
All vehicles back-loaded from Afghanistan are subject to inspection and repair to ensure they are fit for use, including for travel on UK public roads. As at 8 Nov 13, 527 vehicles had undergone or were undergoing the inspection and repair process. (WA, 18 Nov 13.)
903 Expeditionary Air Wing (EAW) continues to make sure Camp Bastion Airfield runs efficiently. The EAW also supported the Relief in Place which is now complete and the redeployment of vehicles and equipment back to the UK. In Kandahar, 904 EAW.s Detachment continues to transport people and freight around Afghanistan.
906 EAW maintains the MoD.s strategic air bridge from the UK to Afghanistan and the broader Middle East. (RAF, 21 Nov 13.)
Comment: The Foreign Secretary announced publication of the 32nd progress report on developments in Afghanistan since November 2010. The report covers October 2013 and can be found through the Government web portal (https://www.gov.uk). A summary is provided in Hansard as a Written Statement on 22 Nov 13, starting in Column 64WS. (Source: DNA DEFENCE NEWS ANALYSIS, Issue 13/46, 25 Nov 13)
18 Nov 13. Philippine Islands: Assistance Following Typhoon Haiyan. HMS DARING arrived in Cebu on 18 Nov 13 to distribute medical assistance, emergency supplies and clean water to victims of the typhoon. (MoD, 18 Nov 13.)
An aid flight left East Midlands Airport with 95 tons of supplies from the Department for International Development (DfID), OXFAM and Save the Children. In addition, an Antanov aircraft left Amsterdam for Cebu carrying heavy lifting equipment. (MoD, 18 Nov 13.)
A C-17 aircraft from 99 Squadron arrived in Cebu carrying three rough-terrain JCBs, two Defender Land Rovers and pallets of medical supplies. (MoD, 18 Nov 13.)
Sailors from HMS DARING arrived in Guintacan which suffered extensive damage during the typhoon. A medical team from Save the Children was established. (RN, 19 Nov 13.)
125 shelter packs provided by DfID were distributed by HMS DARING personnel to communities on Canas, Calagnaan and Tulunanaun islands. (RN, 19 Nov 13.)
HMS DARING distributed aid to the island of Guintacan before sailing to the North East coast of Panay. (MoD, 20 Nov 13.)
Following a 4,500-mile dash across the Indian Ocean, HMS ILLUSTRIOUS stocked up with over 550 tonnes of stores in Singapore. (MoD, 21 Nov 13.)
Islanders on Binuluangan became the latest to receive assistance from HMS DARING. Following the arrival of HMS ILLUSTRIOUS, HMS DARING will resume her global deployment. (RN, 21 Nov 13.)
An RAF Hercules aircraft arrived in Cebu on 19 Nov 13 and started aid flights on the following day. 40 tonnes of essential aid were delivered to two towns badly affected by the typhoons. (RAF, 21 Nov 13.)
HMS ILLUSTRIOUS left Sembawang naval shipyard in Singapore on 22 Nov 13. J Company, 42 Commando Royal Marines and personnel from 42 Commando Engineer Regiment are among the 900 embarked. HMS ILLUSTRIOUS is due to arrive in the Philippines on 24/25 Nov 13. (MoD/RN, 22 Nov 13.)
Comment: A specialist team from the Permanent Joint Headquarters has been deployed to co-ordinate the military relief effort (“ensuring the right aid goes to the right place”). (Source: DNA DEFENCE NEWS ANALYSIS, Issue 13/46, 25 Nov 13)
19 Nov 13. Offshore Patrol Vessels: Case Explained. The Defence Equipment Minister released (19 Nov 13) some additional details about the decision to commission three new Offshore Patrol Vessels for the RN. According to the Minister: “Detailed commercial negotiations around the sh