Air lift in Sudan
- Duration
- 24 October 1972 - 24 December 1972
- Military personnel
- 7
- Fatalities
- none
- Decorations
- none
Sudan became independent on 1 January 1956. In theory, the new state was secular, but in practice Islamic principles formed the basis for the new constitution.
Civil war
This led first to inequality between the Islamic (more Arabic) north and the Christian-animistic (more African) south, and eventually to armed conflict. During the (first) Sudanese civil war, almost 700,000 people were driven from their homes. In February 1972, the peace talks resulted in an agreement.
Relief supplies
What remained unresolved was the problem of the refugees. For a great many of the Sudanese refugees, there was a shortage of food, water, medical supplies and blankets. The UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Sadruddin Aga Khan, asked the UN member states for relief goods and means of transport. The Dutch government sent an F-27 Troopship belonging to 334 Squadron.