Germans’ dire warning for Canuck Mali mission

GAO, Mali — The German helicopter crews being relieved by Canada’s peacekeeping mission in Mali say they have struggled with delays in getting approval for life-saving medical evacuations as penny-wise UN officials wrangle over cost.

Some of those delays have lasted hours, they say — time that could mean the difference between life and death for injured peacekeepers in Mali’s harsh environment and barren landscape.

A second contingent of Canadian soldiers flew into the dusty, sun-baked airstrip here Monday to get ready for the arrival next month of the eight helicopters Canada has pledged to the UN mission in Mali for the next year.

As the sweaty Canadians unloaded their gear at a nearby UN base in the surprisingly sticky heat, moving into the tents and barracks that are their new homes, a number of German soldiers sat and watched from the shade.

Germany has a sizable presence at the UN base in Gao that includes a detachment of NH-90 helicopters, bolstered by several similar aircraft from Belgium, for evacuating injured peacekeepers from the field.

Those Belgian helicopters were on display Monday as they returned to base and landed within the fortified perimeter only long enough to take on some fuel before taking off again.

But both Germany and Belgium will officially end their medical-evacuation missions on Saturday.

Many of the Germans here previously served in Afghanistan, and while they say there are many similarities, there are also key differences, starting with the fact they have not fired a single shot or taken any fire.

While the Germans and Belgians have not been attacked, they are there to help with the aftermath; over the past 18 months, they have evacuated 43 wounded peacekeepers from the field.