Orion Detachment’s medical team provide health care to children in Djibouti

• 43rd contingent’s medical team conduct, on a voluntary basis, treatments and primary care for the Caritas’ children

Since the beginning of their mission, at the end of July, the medical team belonging to the 43rd contingent of the Tactical Air Detachment (DAT) Orión have helped, on a voluntary basis and to the extent that the mission allows it, the most disadvantaged children being took in by 'Caritas Djibouti' association. The medical team is made up of nurse Captain Juan Pablo Sánchez, medical Lieutenant Carlos Abad and medical assistant corporal Álvaro Montero.

Health care focuses on dermatological treatments for the wounds suffered by these children, caused mainly by the sun, high temperatures and poor hygiene, due to the conditions of extreme poverty in which they live.

These actions are framed within the key functions of civil-military cooperation in support of the civilian environment. These tasks are added to those carried out daily, providing medical assistance to the members of the Orion Detachment deployed in Djibouti, who operate the P3 maritime patrol aircraft in the framework of Operation Atalanta.

Operation Atalanta

Operation Atalanta is part of the commitment made by Spain, under the flag of the European Union, in its fight to maintain maritime security off the coast of Somalia and neighbouring countries in the Indian Ocean region.

Since the entry into force of Decision (CFSP) 2020/2018, which extends the mandate of Operation Atalanta, certain tasks such as illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, and trafficking in drugs, arms and charcoal have been included, reinforcing Atalanta's role as a factor of maritime security in the area and based on its success in the fight against piracy and the protection of WFP ships and other vulnerable vessels.