Trapped By Snowy Weather

Four JEMB election workers and two Afghan Police officers who had been stranded in freezing conditions in remote mountains were recently rescued by ISAF helicopters in a joint operation with Coalition forces. The Afghan workers had been on their way to collect four ballot boxes from villages in Badakshan Province when a Russian Mi-8 helicopter due to collect them was forced to make an emergency landing on October 12th.

Walking in often blizzard-like conditions, the workers retrieved the ballot boxes, but it has been impossible to reach them until now from outside because of the weather. Although rescue equipment was dropped to them, they began to suffer from hypothermia and their satellite telephone battery ran out of power. Yesterday evening a five person specialist rescue team from the US-led Coalition was parachuted in, to arrange for today's recovery.

At daylight two ISAF German CH-53 helicopters took off from Feyzabad, one carrying specialist medical equipment. At the same time a ISAF German C-160 aircraft left Kunduz, to provide an aerial communications relay back to base. At 0820, the helicopters had located the party and set off for the return journey with the JEMB officials, ANP officers, the US rescuers and the four ballot boxes on board.

On the return journey the six rescued received specialist medical attention on the medevac helicopter for a variety of symptoms including hypothermia, dehydration and breathing difficulties. On their return to Kunduz at 1140, the JEMB workers was transferred to the PRT hospital for a check-up, but have been released this afternoon. All six were said to be 'extremely tired'. The US rescue team has returned to the Bagram Air Base.

"I am very proud of everyone involved in this rescue, in remote and tough territory," says Lieutenant General Jean-Louis Py, Commander of ISAF. "We worked closely with Coalition forces and the JEMB, and through good team work, and the excellent skills of those involved, I am very pleased this story has a happy ending. I am particularly struck by the dedication of the JEMB officials who stuck by their ballot boxes, even when things must have looked pretty desperate."

"The rescue operation was conducted under borderline flying conditions on the edge of the oxygen poor sphere," adds Colonel Hans-J�rgen Ochs, Commander of this German Operational Wing. "It was high-level flying skills combined with efficient planning and favourable meteorological conditions which led to the desired success."

The ballot boxes have now been transferred to the Kunduz counting house where counting for the Province of Badakshan can now begin.

FMI: www.afnorth.nato.int/ISAF/index.htm