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22 GLOBAL
GLOBAL
Working with the UN
A little known part of the Patrick Defence Logistics (PDL)
business is our work with the United Nations (UN) Department
of Peace Keeping Operations.
With the UN decision to increase the UN military force in Lebanon,
following the Israeli incursion into Lebanon, the existing UN mission
in Lebanon did not have enough people to coordinate and move the
incoming international troops.
The quickest solution for the UN was to use PDL under an existing
contract. So after a quick planning process, PDL support to UNIFIL
(United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon) started on 3 September
2006 with the first team arriving in Cyprus on 4 September 2006, and
transitting to Lebanon on 5 September 2006.
In all, PDL would have had personnel in Lebanon for 192 days. The
team peaked at eight and for the majority of the time, six people were
deployed to Lebanon operating out of Naqoura (near the Israeli
border) and Beirut.
PDL has drawn people from its own resources as well as Toll
International Freight and Patrick Stevedores to make it work. In all,
a total of 21 people have manned the operation which has been led by
Rocky Hoare in Beirut (who has been there for the entire duration)
and Michael O'Brien in Naqoura.
Neil Gray, UN Chief Movement Control Officer for UNIFIL based at
Naqoura in South Lebanon praised PDL's commitment:
"I would like to take this opportunity to express my sincere thanks and
gratitude to the entire team of PDL staff who came to Lebanon at
short notice and in difficult circumstances. You can be proud of their
accomplishments and the professionalism shown in performing a
diverse number of functions, mostly in adverse conditions, in order to
deploy the increased UNIFIL force.
“Your staff demonstrated their expertise, showed dedication and were
pro-active in getting the job done in a positive manner.The PDL team
played a vital role in deploying UNIFIL contingents and without their
presence it would have been difficult to achieve the mandate. "
For further information please contact:
Ewen Anderson
Administration Officer Patrick Defence Logistics
T: +61 7 3260 3929 E: eanderson@patrick.com.au
Raquel Taylor looking after some Italian peace keeping troops before they headed south
from Beirut to the Israeli / Lebanese border area.
Rocky Hoare working with a Ghanaian peace keeping soldier in Beirut.
Graham Magoffin ensuring that new UN vehicles are tightly secured before the difficult
trip to the south of the country.
Israeli air attacks caused major structural damage to the southern Lebanese road
infrastructure. Without any street lights in remote areas, motorists were known to simply
drive off the edge as the road disappeared in the dark.
Nigel Cunningham, with Lebanese soldier checking out the PDL company vehicle after
it was destroyed.