Rampers home safe

Volume 48, No. 16, Sepetember 7, 2006

SAFE: AIRCDRE Mark Skidmore, JFACC, welcomes members of Op Ramp back to Australia from Lebanon. Photo by LAC Colin Dadd

OPERATION Ramp is over and all personnel are home safely.

Twelve personnel based at the Australian Embassy in Beirut arrived in Sydney on August 25.

During the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT)-led operation, which started with the deployment of the initial 22 personnel on July 19, the ADF teams assisted the evacuation of over 5300 Australian and 1900 foreign nationals from Lebanon via Cyprus and Turkey.

The second team, a 96-member task force, deployed to Cyprus on July 21.

The Air Force contribution comprised C-130s and personnel from 382 and 386 ECSS, 1ATS, 1CLS, 37SQN, 1 and 3AFDS, and RAAF Base Edinburgh. They were employed at the Evacuation Handling Centre (EHC) at Larnaca Port, Cyprus.

Task Force commander Colonel Andrew Condon said his team worked incredibly hard to achieve safe passage out of Lebanon for the Australians trapped in the strife-torn country.

“Our personnel operated long hours for extended periods to ensure we were always ready to help the Australians in need,” he said.

Chief of the Defence Force, ACM Angus Houston commended the “outstanding work” of the ADF in supporting the evacuation.

“This operation illustrated the capabilities of the ADF to respond to short notice crises and provide a very effective service to Australians in need,” he said.

“I am extremely proud of what our personnel have achieved during this difficult period.”

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