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04 Nov 14. Sierra Leone: OP GRITROCK. Personnel from 22 Field Hospital, including infectious disease consultants, are operating a 12-bed specialist ward for health care workers. The unit forms part of a larger 92-bed facility which is one of six being built by the
UK to provide care for up to 8,800 Ebola patients for the next six months. (Soldier, November 2014.)
Royal Marines from 42 Commando and 539 Assault Squadron went ashore at Lungi Beach to carry out survey work. (RN, 4 Nov 14.)
The Foreign Secretary said that he warmly welcomed Australia’s plans to operate a 100-bed Ebola treatment centre in Sierra Leone. (FCO, 5 Nov 14.)
A new British Ebola treatment centre opened to patients on 5 Nov 14 in Kerry Town, near Freetown. The complex includes an 80-bed treatment centre to be managed by „Save the Children. and a 12-bed centre, staffed by British Army medical personnel, for health care workers. (DfID, 5 Nov 14.)
Some 800 military personnel have been deployed to Sierra Leone. The UK has received 2,140 applications from British medical staff willing to deploy. (Written Answer (WA), 5 Nov 14.)
The air bridge has delivered mobile buildings to set up a freight hub at Freetown Airport. Working with German C-160 aircraft, the RAF is helping to move protective equipment for medical staff, vehicles, blankets, food and sanitary equipment. (RAF News, 7 Nov 14.)
A Dutch naval ship arrived in Southampton (7 Nov 14) loaded with over 100 vehicles and 70 containers of aid supplies. The vessel is to pick up 55 DfID vehicles and 40 pallets of material for RFA Argus. The journey to the West African coast is expected to take two weeks. (Royal Netherlands Embassy, 7 Nov 14.)
Not only is RFA Argus playing a logistical role, but also a medical role assisting in the care of over 800 Armed Forces personnel deployed as well as entitled UK Government employees. RFA Argus can remain at sea for several months and is also able to produce her own fresh water. (RN, 7 Nov 14.)
Comment: Three Oral Questions about Ebola were answered on 5 Nov 14 in the House of Commons (Hansard, Column 807 et seq). Also in the House of Commons on 5 Nov 14, Ebola was debated in considerable detail. (Hansard, Column 937, with the Ministerial reply starting in Column 942.) (Source: DNA DEFENCE NEWS ANALYSIS, Issue 14/44, 10 Nov 14)
03 Nov 14. Iraq: OP SHADER. British Forces have continued to conduct air Operations to assist the Iraqi Government in its fight against ISIL. Two Tornado GR4 were tasked to investigate ISIL activity over the week-end (1/2 Nov 14): a single Brimstone missile was launched to destroy an ISIL vehicle. An additional Brimstone missile was used to attack an ISIL pick-up truck (3 Nov 14). (MoD, 3 Nov 14.)
Visiting Iraq, the Defence Secretary announced that the UK plans to offer further training to Iraqi Forces and advisory personnel. The MoD reiterated that “the Government remains clear that no ground combat troops will be deployed to Iraq”, but the UK is preparing to increase the number of Reaper remotely piloted aircraft. During his trip, the Defence Secretary also visited Qatar and Kuwait. (MoD, 5 Nov 14.)
Comment: The UK Ambassador to Iraq condemned (2 Nov 14) the “brutal murders” of Sunni tribesmen by ISIL terrorists in Anbar Province. (Source: DNA DEFENCE NEWS ANALYSIS, Issue 14/44, 10 Nov 14)
01 Nov 14. Afghanistan: OP HERRICK/OP CATALINA. UK Forces will, in future, focus on the NATO RESOLUTE SUPPORT mission. A few hundred UK specialists and mentors will remain in the Kabul region. (MoD, 1 Nov 14.)
UK Reaper remotely piloted aircraft systems will be withdrawn from Afghanistan by the end of the year. (Written Answer (WA), 4 Nov 14.)
The Afghan Government will be encour