Canada to step down from MINUSMA mission

摘要

CANADA IS planning a "responsible departure" from the Mali peacekeeping mission. The Canadian Forces currently have around 250 members stationed in Gao, Mali, to provide a forward aeromedical evacuation capability under the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA). Canada announced in March last year that it would be sending helicopters to Mali as part of Operation Presence. By August 1, Task Force Mali had achieved initial operating capability in theatre. It declared final operating capability - with a total of three CH-147F and five CH-146 helicopters - just two weeks later. Ahead of the arrival in Mali of a Romanian helicopter rotation this year, Canada's Air Task Force (ATF) was to begin a gradual departure at the end of July, gradually scaling down its operations and limiting tasks to medical evacuation until August 31. To date, Operation Presence has conducted ten medical evacuations. Canadian helicopters have accumulated more than 3,000 flying hours, transported more than 6,400 passengers and delivered more than 370,000lb (167,829kg) of cargo.