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Apr 5 2020

The Netherlands delivers essential medical equipment to Saint Maarten to combat the effects of COVID-19


On 5 April 2020, The Netherlands delivered two mobile Intensive Care Units (ICU), protective medical equipment and medicaments to the island of Saint Maarten in the Dutch Caribbean, through the Strategic Airlift Capability (SAC). The delivery is essential to equip health workers and treat COVID-19 patients.


The flight was arranged by the Strategic Airlift Capability (SAC) in response to an Emergency Response Mission requirement from The Netherlands. One of the three SAC's three Boeing Globemaster C-17-s, took off in the morning of the 5th of April from Eindhoven loaded with the two ICUs, protective medical equipment and medicaments, and landed in Sint Marteen at 20:25 CET.

The Netherlands delivers essential medical equipment to Saint Maarten to combat the effects of COVID-19

The Intensive Care Units delivered are fully equipped for independent mobile operations and will significantly increase the islands' capacity to save the lives of residents in critical condition.

The mission was carried out by the multinational crew of the Heavy Airlift Wing (HAW), the operational arm of the Strategic Airlift Capability, including Dutch crewmembers on board.

This humanitarian Emergency Response Mission is the fourth in a row carried out by the Strategic Airlift Capability upon the request of one of its member nations. In the past two weeks the Heavy Airlift Wing delivered 135 tons of Personal Protective Equipment to Romania.

About Strategic Airlift Capability (SAC)

The Strategic Airlift Capability is a multinational programme that provides assured access to strategic military airlift capability for its 12 member nations, Bulgaria, Finland, Hungary, Lithuania, Norway, Poland, Romania, Slovenia, Sweden, and the United States of America.

The NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA) manages the full life cycle management of the three Globemaster C-17 aircraft stationed at Pápa Airbase, including acquisition and sustainment. Mission execution is the sole responsibility of the operational arm of the SAC, the multinational military unit, the Heavy Airlift Wing (HAW).

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