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Show Aug. 5, 1993 Aircraft Sent to protect peacekeepers 1 7 Hilltop Times News Briefs Provide Premise update RHE - OperaAB, Germany (AFNS) tion Provide Promise aircrews have dropped more than 240 tons of food to Gorazde and more than 60 tons to Srebrenica since July 23, said Joint Information Bureau officials here. Both cities are in Aircrews have dropped 6,000 tons of food and a for medical supplies to cities in the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees since Feb. 28, officials said. About 70,000 people in Gorazde rely on the airdrops for survival. "These airdrops have been nothing less than lifesaving," said Ron Redmond, senior public information officer for UNHCR in Geneva. He said there is no alternative to the airdrop. "Airdrop supplies are simply a matter of life or death." Operation Provide Promise planners work closely with the UNHCR staff to identify locations needing the most aid. The planners then determine the best drop zones. aircraft also continue to airlift food and U.S. medicine to Sarajevo, the capital of and most recently flew in more than 600 tons. IN-MAI- N 28 before being transfor U.S. ferred to treatment, Air Force offihospitals at Andrews AFB, Md., July cials said. d - The patients have either injuries, or in available is not care that require officials said. The 2nd Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron here AB, and the 37th Airlift Squadron at Rhein-Mai- n from the evacuated Sarajevo patients Germany, the July 26. The patients were later transferred toGerin Center Medical Landstuhl, Regional Army flight to Andrews. many, to await the The Air Force began evacuating Bosnian war victims to the United States on regularly scheduled medical flights in February. The July 28 flight took several months of planning because the patients' security and safety had to be ensured, said Nidia Foley of the International Organization on Migration in Washington, D.C. "IOM doctors screened the patients and worked with the United Nations to manifest them," she said. "The U.N. must approve any patients leaving Sarajevo." Foley said Sonia Hagel, an administrator with Central City Hospital in Los Angeles, worked with the IOM to find hospitals for the patients. This was the third time 2nd AES members had crews into Sarajevo. Squadron evacuation accompanied Sarajevo medical C-and on aircraft, movmembers Thirteen fly RAMSTEIN AB, Germany (AFNS) said. officials about 20,000 to scheduled arrive year, were per war patients ing victims of the Bosnian Bosnia-Herzegovin- war-relate- Bosnia-Herzegovin- a, a. Bosnia-Herzegovin- by TSgt. David P. Masko Air Force News Service WASHINGTON With the upsurge of fighting in Bosnia, the Pentagon is sending 40 more military aircraft to protect United Nations peacekeeping troops on the ground. Defense Secretary Les Aspin approved the action July 14. The aircraft, including 12 from the Air Force, will join NATO's planned air support for the U.N. Protection Force in Bosnia. "The deployment order authorizes a phased aircraft, 10 deployment of 30 ground attack-capabl- e aircraft and involves support approximately 1,500 . said personnel," Navy Capt. Michael Doubleday a during Pentagon press briefing July 15. France, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom have also announced their participation in the mission, said Doubleday. The deployment includes 12 0 and OA-1- 0 aircraft from Spangdahlem AB, Germany, and four 0 cargo planes from Hurlburt Field, Fla. The s deployed July 13 to Aviano AB, Italy. tankers from Fairchild Additionally, five KC-13- 5 airborne command, AFB, Wash., and five EC-13control and communications support aircraft from Keesler AFB, Miss., are scheduled to support the peacekeeping operation. s will operand Doubleday said the s will work out the ate from Aviano, while of a base at Brindisi, Italy. KC-13- 5 refueling support will be directed from either Sigonella or Malpensa, Italy. The Navy will support the mission from the USS Theodore Roosevelt in the Mediterranean, flying s as part of the allied strike force. and FA-18- s will be operating with the Air t Marine Corps FA-18- s Force out of Aviano. The deployment of additional aircraft to the region comes at a time when the U.N. Protection Force has been tasked to make sure all food and medical aid deliveries get into the beleaguered country. U.N. officials said Serbian forces have tried to cut off aid going into the former Yugoslavian towns of Sarajevo, Gorazde, Srebrenica and Tuzla. "The humanitarian situation is as poor as it's ever been. The defensive situation is as poor as it's ever been," said Bosnian U.N. Ambassador Muhamad Sacirbey during a televised report July 16. The Clinton administration considered air strikes to stop the killing in Bosnia in May, but put the idea on hold after it was debated. President Clinton has said any U.S. action in Bosnia must have a clearly defined goal, with a clearly identified exit strategy. Doubleday told reporters that this latest action has only one goal: provide protection upon request from the U.N. troops who are going to be deployed there. A-1- AC-13- C-1- C-1- Bosnia-Herzegovin- a, C-1- - C-1- C-1- 9, A-lO- 0 30SMIA-HERZEG0V1M- A EC-130- A-lO- AC-13- 0s Created from the Yugoslavian army - 40,000 troops, 300 tanks - 200 APC's, 600-- 1 ,000 STV J IZTZaWjk AlySffiA" A-6- -- - Up to 15.000 troops in I ?osn,.l"Hercz1??0Ta. 100 artillery - I lufghteSaft. helicopters I 30 ' n I . BOSNlAa -- 20.000 to 25,000 troops - Mainly small arms, some tanks & artillery - Approximately 50.000 Regulars. 100.000 Irregulars Mainly small arms, limited Approximately 50.000 - Small arms, mortars Predominately responsible lor ethnic cleansing heavy equipment AFHEWS Source: National Technical Service in of base swells Italy population Deployment While SAN VITO AS, ITALY most bases 14 months from closing are downsizing and losing people, San Vito's population and mission are growing daily. The latest expansion began July 17 when about 300 people and two AC-13arrived from Hurlburt Field, Fla Tho Hpnlnvmpnt. will nrovide nro-tective air power in case U.N. protec- tion forces, acting under U.IM. manare atdates in tacked. But this isn't the first deployment to San Vito this year. Approximately 600 people arrived in late February to provide search and rescue operations for the nightly humanitarian airdrops over And while the initial deployment had shrunk to about 350 people, the latest influx means there are almost as many people deployed to San Vito as there are permanently assigned here. On July 17 the base went into high gear to welcome the newcomers. Since 0s Bosnia-Herzegovin- a, Bosnia-Herzegovin- a. 66 Every office on San Vito participated in some way to help bed down the deployed troops. 99 Capt. MclvSn Humphrey Might chief Logittkf phim most of the excess dormitory space is already being used by the SAR forces, the base civil engineers helped an emergency forces team from Bitburg AB, Germany, build a tent city. The group erected 40 tents, complete with wooden floors, electricity and bathroom facilities. 12-pers- . Other units joined CE in preparations even before the first deployment arrived. For example, the 775th Communications Squadron was working July 16 to install lines for the tents. Capt. George Berig, squadron operations chief, said the squadron will also provide pagers, data lines and message traffic throughout the deployment. The 775th Morale, Welfare, Recreation and Services Squadron set up temporary lodging in the fitness center and high school gym until the tents were ready, and the dining facility operated around the clock providing meals to the deployed troops. Some people began moving into the tents July 22, but hundreds of others are still being housed in the fitness center and high school. The dining facility returned to regular hours July Humphrey, logistics plans flight chief. He said transportation provided materiel vehicles and the fire department provided additional fire protection vehicles for the flight line. The Army and Air Force Exchange Service and the commissary also prepared for an influx of people. aircraft arrived July The first 17 at the Brindisi Airport. It was foland two one 1 lowed by five s in three days. Since San Vito doesn't have a flight line, all the deployment aircraft must be parked at an Italian air force base in Brindisi. The transportation squadron is busing the deployed troops the seven miles between Brindisi and San Vito. war-readine- ss C-1-30 C-5- s, C-14- AC-130- "This deployment went a lot smoother than in February when the special operations forces arrived," said TSgt. Corey Emig, logistics plans 23. flight NCOIC. "This time we were more sure of ourselves and we received office on San Vito participat"Every ed in some way to help bed down the lots of help from 16th Air Force." deployed troops," said Capt. Melvin (Courtesy San Vito public affairs) |