Indian Airmen in Sierra Leone

12 Jun, 2000    ·   362

N.K. Pant comments on the contribution of the Indian Forces in Sierra Leone
N. K. Pant
Sierra Leone is the news these days. A number of UN Peace Keepers, including 25 Indian army soldiers, have been captured by the rebels. Besides, a helicopter of the Indian Air force was damaged while on a UN humanitarian mission. UN peacekeeping missions abroad have been the Indian army’s preserve so far. But, this time, 23 helicopter pilots, 7 officers from aeronautical engineering and other allied branches, and 120 ground crew of the Indian Air Force, with a complement of eight helicopters, are deployed in Sierra Leone since March 2000 of provide support for ending the violent ethnic conflict. 

 

 

A number of multinational military units of the UN Observer Mission in Sierra Leone (UNOMSIL) are deployed in the strife torn country to implement the provisions of a peace treaty hammered out by several warring factions. India has contributed more than one battalion strength of infantry  one company of army engineers and a 50 bedded hospital including doctors from the army medical corps. The IAF helicopter squadron positioned at Lungs airfield near the capital city of Freetown is likely to operate from Hastings , satellite airfield in the vicinity. It is the only air element supporting the combined UN peacekeeping forces in Sierra Leone which has a long history of political unrest and civil war. The country has several pockets still occupied by armed hostile bands which can make flying hazardous. The helicopters-4medium lift MI-8s and 4 lightweight Indian made Chetaks are to be deployed on multifarious duties such as cargo supply, troops movements, VIP transportation, medical support and casualty evacuation. The squadron was adequately equipped before its departure and is self sufficient by way of temporary field accommodation aircraft engineering needs, power generation, administrative and logistics requirements. It has instrument and trained personnel for providing meteorological briefing to the air crew for safe flying in view of the unpredictable weather conditions in the wet and humid region.

 

 

There are considerable fringe benefits for the IAF personnel for operating in the skies of Sierra Leone from the Atlantic coast to the jungles in the interior. While the officers and airmen receive UN allowances which are quite substantial in rupee terms, the Air Force pilots earn $1600 per hour for MI-8 flying and nearly $1000 per hour for the small Chetak helicopter. But the UN is notorious for very long delays in reimbursing expenses and even defaults on payments which cause avoidable financial strain on developing countries like India . It is astonishing that the world body already owes India more than $50 million as dues for peacekeeping assignments. Understandably it is not in a position to clear this considerable outstanding amount as the United States , the largest donor to the UN coffers, has failed, to pay its contributions during the last several years bringing the world body to the precipice of bankruptcy. But this problem has not deterred India from sending its armed forces on overseas peace missions. It has the largest presence in the UN peace keeping operations with more than 2500 armed forces and para military personnel serving around the world. Over the years, more than 50,000Indians have served in 31 peacekeeping missions in every continent, underlining the country’s commitment to world peace. 

 

 

The Indian airmen, who have proceeded to Sierra Leone for a period of one year, will have to live and work in the country where the separate where the specter of cerebral malaria and AIDS looms large. Adequate preventive measures will have to be taken to safeguard the personnel from such infections. Professionally, it will be a real challenge as they will have to meet multifarious requisitions for air sorties from a heterogeneous and loosely knit organisation, and civilian aid agencies placed under the flag of the United Nations in difficult and after hostile conditions. But the professional interaction and rapport with soldiers of other nationalities will prove to be rewarding experience for the Indian airmen. This is a unique opportunity for them to enhance their operational skills whilst earning the gratitude of the host country and its citizens. 

 

 

 

 

 

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