Spanish detachment 'Marfil' builds a water well for Paule Lapique school in Sangué

• This new potable water facility is part of the cooperation projects with the civilian community in the region 

This well is part of the Spanish contingent's Civil-Military Cooperation project (CIMIC). It will provide potable water to the Senegalese school Paule Lapique of Sangué. The drilled well and the full support installation will also be used by the agricultural training workshop addressed to the school's pupils.

During the inauguration ceremony, the Minister of Defence, Margarita Robles, spoke by telephone, as well as the Spanish Ambassador to Senegal, Olga Cabarga Gómez, and 'Marfil' detachment's Force Commander, lieutenant colonel Álvaro Martínez-Villalobos. The Minister of Defence could speak with Sister Hortensia Perosanz, the school's principal, remarking "Spain's affection for the children, for them and for the entire Spanish contingent".

After the ceremony, the attendees visited the school, where 251 local students receive education and support.

This kind of CIMIC activities undertaken by DAT 'Marfil' in this region enhances the image and presence of Spain in this area of operations, as well as the image of our Armed Forces and their work among the civilian population. 

DAT 'Marfil'

Spanish Air Force's DAT 'Marfil' operates from the ‘Escale Aéronautique Commandant LEMAITRE’, in the facilities of the French Elements in Senegal (EFS) at the Blaise Diagne International Airport, a few kilometres from Dakar (Senegal). Under the operational command of the Operations Command (MOPS), it is tasked with intra-theatre tactical and logistical airlift missions, as well as in-flight refuelling, if the air assets deployed so permit, in support of France in its fight against terrorism within the framework of Operation Barkhane. The detachment also supports the United Nations missions MINUSMA and MINUSCA, to stabilise Mali and Central Africa respectively, as well as the European Union missions EUTM RCA and EUTM Mali, to support the training and education of the armed forces of these countries, and the G5 Sahel Joint Force.

The detachment is made up of 70 military personnel from different Air Force units, mostly personnel from the 35th Wing, the Air Deployment Support Squadron (EADA) and the Mobile Air Control Group (GRUMOCA). It operates with two Airbus C295 (T-21) aircraft belonging to the 35th Wing of the Getafe Air Base. The mission's Joint Force Air Component Command (JFACC), located in Lyon (France), is in charge of scheduling the missions of the two Spanish aircraft, which operate H24 in the Joint Operations Area (JOA), an extensive area that includes 21 African countries, slightly larger than continental Europe.

After being operational for over eight years, DAT 'Marfil' has become an outstanding example of the contribution of the Armed Forces to Spain's external action in its commitment to international peace and security.