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17 Nov 14. Sierra Leone: OP GRITROCK. It is ultimately for individual personnel whether they choose to purchase personal accident and/or life insurance cover. The MoD provides compensation for personnel injured due to service through the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme. (Lords. Spokesman, 17 Nov 14 – responding to a Question about life insurance for those deploying to Sierra Leone.)
Ebola-related case incidence is still increasing in Sierra Leone (but not in Guinea and Liberia). (UN, 20 Nov 14.)
“Ebola’s attack on West Africa is an attack on all of us. The international community must fight this together.” (UK Ambassador to the UN, 21 Nov 14.)
Any member of the Armed Forces who contracts Ebola Virus Disease will have their circumstances considered on the basis of individual clinical need. (Lords. Spokesman, 21 Nov 14.)
Officials are currently examining the issue of medallic recognition for those who have deployed (to West Africa). (Written Answer (WA), 21 Nov 14.)
More than 30 NHS staff from the UK are departing for Sierra Leone. Over 800 MoD personnel are deployed to help with the establishment of Ebola Treatment Centres and the Ebola Training Academy. (MoD, 22 Nov 14.)
Comment: Latest figures from the World Health Organisation (WHO) report a total of 15,145 Ebola-related cases including 5,420 deaths. (UN, 20 Nov 14.) (Source: DNA DEFENCE NEWS ANALYSIS, Issue 14/46, 24 Nov 14)
17 Nov 14. Iraq: OP SHADER. Between 22 Oct and 9 Nov 14 there were 22 RAF Reaper missions over Iraq. In two cases the aircraft was armed and there was one weapon release. (WA, 17 Nov 14.)
Between 1 Jan and 10 Nov 14 the total number of RAF missions flown in Iraq was 251. (WA, 18 Nov 14.)
“The UK will continue to stand by the people of Iraq, the Government of Iraq and the Kurdistan Regional Government in their fight against terrorism and protecting civilians from ISIL’s murderous campaign”. (FCO
Minister, 19 Nov 14.)
Air strikes in Iraq, including those conducted by the RAF, have contributed directly to halting some of ISIL.s advances and supporting Iraqi Forces engaged on the ground. (WA, 19 Nov 14.)
British Forces have continued to conduct air Operations to assist the Iraqi Government in its fight against ISIL. RAF aircraft have conducted further Operations in the vicinity of the Bayji oil refinery. Reaper aircraft were also in action over Iraq. (MoD, 20 Nov 14.)
The Government’s intention is to provide support to the Iraqi Government while it believes it to be both needed and the Iraqi Government still request it. (WA, 20 Nov 14.)
“We have also used our expanding bilateral relationship with Iran over the last year to discuss ISIL and other regional issues.” (FCO Minister, 21 Nov 14.)
Comment: ‘RAF News’ (21 Nov 14) included an article explaining the role of the Reaper unmanned air vehicles which “are also being used to provide intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance assistance to help manned aircraft conducting further strikes.” (Source: DNA DEFENCE NEWS ANALYSIS, Issue 14/46, 24 Nov 14)
20 Nov 14. Afghanistan: OP HERRICK/OP CATALINA. From 1 Jan 06 to 31 Oct 14, 2,188 personnel were Wounded in Action and 7,384 were aeromedically evacuated. During October 2014 there were no people Wounded in Action but 16 were aeromedically evacuated. (Def Stats, 20 Nov 14.) [The figure of 1,188 Wounded in Action given in DNA 14/41 should read 2,188 i.e. the same as the current figure.]
Aircrew from 31 Squadron RAF completed the journey back to RAF Marham with their Tornado aircraft. (RAF, 15 Nov 14.) 14 Nov 14 marked the end of UK Hercules C-130 Wing’s contribution to OP HERRICK as the last two aircraft landed at RAF Brize Norton. (RAF, 17 Nov 14.) 34 Squadron RAF Regime