The Orion Tactical Air Detachment delivers donations to Caritas Djibouti and Solidaridad Femenina

• This civil-military cooperation activity provides direct support to the most needy local population and has been coordinated with the authorities in the area

The Spanish contingent airmen from the ‘Orion’ Tactical Air Detachment (TAD), part of the EUNAVFOR Atalanta mission, has supported the management of donations of humanitarian aid from the Spanish organizations ‘La Estela de Ayo’ and ‘Brazadas por Sonrisas’. The aim of these donations has been to collaborate with the Djibouti authorities, and in coordination with them, to address the specific needs of the most vulnerable and needy civilian population. In total, the delivery of food and supplies consisted of more than 1,600 kilograms of rice and pasta, as well as school supplies, hygiene and sanitary products, medical examination chairs, and wheelchairs, which were distributed to organizations that serve the local population.

In Djibouti, the recipients have been two social aid organizations. On the one hand, Caritas Djibouti, whose day center cares for children in need, providing them with food, healthcare, educational support, and activities aimed at their social and family reintegration. On the other hand, Solidaridad Femenina is an organization that provides local support to women and their children—all of whom survive in precarious health and social circumstances—through direct support for their socioeconomic integration, vocational training workshops, and healthcare for their children.

In recent months, the Orion Detachment has worked closely with CIMIC (in Spanish) teams from the United States, Italy, Japan, and France, and has promoted a CIMIC forum for discussion and information exchange. In addition, the support of the consular services of the Spanish Embassy in Ethiopia has facilitated communication with the Djiboutian authorities. The Spanish contingent has worked closely with the Directorate General of International Relations (DGRI in Spanish) of the Djiboutian Armed Forces to resume these activities in accordance with the guidelines of the Djiboutian Ministry of Social Affairs and Solidarity (MASS in Spanish).

Operation Atalanta

Operation Atalanta is the result of a series of UN resolutions adopted following the increase in acts of piracy in the Indian Ocean since 2005. With the strong support of Spain, it became the first European Union naval operation to be carried out under the Common Security and Defense Policy (CSDP).

At the end of 2024, the EU Council approved the extension of the operation's mandate until February 28, 2027, reflecting the achievements made and the challenges for the future. Throughout this time, the area of operations has been expanded in successive mandates and currently covers the Gulf of Aden and neighboring countries, including the port and city of Muscat (Oman), the Somali Basin, the Red Sea, and the Gulfs of Suez and Aqaba.

Spain currently contributes approximately 350 military personnel to Operation Atalanta, with the frigate Victoria and a D4 aircraft as its main assets. In this context, Spain has been the only European Union country to participate continuously in Operation Atalanta since its launch 16 years ago, as well as leading the operation since 2019 from the Operational Headquarters (OHQ) located in Rota.