Commando Engineers from North Devon and Commando Royal Marines from Plymouth returned on 2 February 2006 from the earthquake disaster region of Bagh in Pakistan where they built shelters to replace schools and health centres before the arrival of the harsh winter.
The engineers from 59 Independent Commando Engineers Squadron, based in North Devon, and Marines from 42 Commando Royal Marines, part of 3 Commando Brigade Royal Marines, from Bickleigh, Plymouth, are highly trained to operate in extreme conditions and found the mountainous region tested their abilities to the limit.
Against the huge challenges of the rocky terrain, weather and the chaos caused by the earthquake, the elite troops lived up to their high reputation and completed, among many others, the following tasks:
- Fuilding 30 large school shelters, including one to replace a girls' school destroyed by the quake in the village of Mukhdoom Kot at 6000 feet above sea level
- Building 17 health centres, including one for the World Health Organisation
- Putting out a house fire
- Rescuing an 11-vehicle aid convoy trapped in deep snow
- Distributing food and clothing to remote areas
Minster for the Armed Forces, Adam Ingram, congratulated the team:
"The Commando Engineers have done a sterling job in extreme conditions to help the people of Bagh get their medical and educational facilities back in operation before the winter. he sheer number of facilities the engineers managed to construct is phenomenal.
"Not only that, they deployed with total professionalism at short notice and were away from their homes over Christmas. I am extremely grateful for their efforts."
The Commando Engineers operated in the mountains where temperatures dropped to minus 10 degrees Celsius as the harsh winter crept in. Heavy rain and snow caused landslides and rock-falls, resulting in most patrols being forced to operate across the difficult terrain when the limited road system was blocked. The team used helicopters and snow tracked vehicles as transport, but on occasions, had to actually walk equipment into the hills.
Major Nigel Cribb, Officer Commanding 59 Independent Engineers and 42 Commando Royal Marines, arriving back at Royal Marines Chivenor today, talked about the experience:
"We are pleased that our specialist training and capabilities have been used to good effect, possibly saving lives and helping the most needy during this disaster. The children in the villages had to walk about one hour or more to school in the remote mountainous areas, so this is where we came in to our own and helped build temporary classrooms, emergency health units and communal shelters for several homeless families at once. Our cold weather and high altitude capability, coupled with light engineering expertise meant we could extend the reach into the mountains of the Himalayas. I am proud of what we have achieved."
The Commando Engineers deployed in November 2005 at very short notice in support of the Department for International Development (DFID). DFID is leading and co-ordinating the UK Government's response to the earthquake in Pakistan and funded the =A32.5m deployment of the Commando Engineers.