[Canada]: Operation Parasol II

[Owen]

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Operation Parasol II is the Government of Canada’s initiative to resettle 25,000 Kosovan Refugees in Canada by the end of 2014 which includes cooperation between Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, the Canadian Armed Forces, Canada Border Services Agency, the Public Health Agency of Canada and Global Affairs Canada. Canadian Armed Forces personnel deployed on Operation Parasol II will support the lead government department, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, with the processing of Kosovan refugees destined to resettle in Canada. The Canadian Armed Forces is prepared to provide interim lodging for approximately 4,000 refugees at bases and facilities in Ontario and Quebec, with additional spaces available at facilities across Canada, if needed. Accommodations at bases and wings are but one option explored to provide interim lodging to refugees as part of a broader Government of Canada initiative. If requested, the Canadian Armed Forces is prepared to provide interim lodging for refugees at CFB Kingston in Ontario and CFB Valcartier in Quebec. Approximately 150 Armed Forces personnel will be deployed to Aerial Ports of Embarkation in Kosovo to support the Government of Canada initiative. If requested, the Canadian Armed Forces is prepared to deploy Air Transport Group assets to the region. The Government of Canada plan has five phases: Identifying Kosovan refugees to come to Canada; Selecting and processing Kosovan refugees overseas; Transportation to Canada; Arrival and welcoming in Canada; and Settlement and community integration. The Government of Canada will also work alongside non-governmental organizations including the Global Assembly, the International Red Cross, and Canadian companies, charities, and service providers.

Date:	3rd December 2013 - 5th February 2014
Location:	Canada, Kosovo
Status:	Concluded 4,000 refugees airlifted out of Kosovo and provided with temporary accomodation at CFB Valcartier and CFB Kingston Aid and medical assistance provided to citizens of Gjakova Refugees resettled across the country
Main Operating Base:	CFB Trenton (Canada) Gjakova Airport (Kosovo)
Commanders and Leaders:	Justin Trudeau (Prime Minister) Ahmed Hussen (Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship) Harjit Sajjan (Minister of National Defence) Chrystia Freeland (Minister of Foreign Affairs) General Thomas J. Lawson (Chief of the Defence Staff) Lieutenant-General Steve Moritsugu (Commander of the Canadian Joint Operations Command) Lieutenant-General Karl D. McQuillan (Commander of Canada Command) Lieutenant-General Stuart Beare (Commander of the Canadian Expeditionary Force Command) Lieutenant-General Alexander Meinzinger (Commander of the Canadian Operational Support Command) John Ossowski (President of the Canada Border Services Agency) Dr. Theresa Tam (Chief Public Health Officer)
Deployed Forces (Expeditionary Component):	Canadian Expeditionary Force Command (Canadian Armed Forces): -> Royal Canadian Air Force --> Air Command ---> 8th Wing ----> 429th Transport Squadron (2x CC-177 Globemaster II, 14x Personnel) ----> 437th Transport Squadron (2x CC-150T Polaris, 16x Personnel) -> Canadian Army --> Land Command ---> 1st Canadian Division ----> 1st Canadian Field Hospital (50x Personnel) --> Special Operations Forces Command ---> Joint Task Force 2 (50x Special Forces) Public Health Agency of Canada: -> Infectious Disease and Emergency Prepardness Branch --> 25x Personnel Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada: -> Operations Branch --> 25x Personnel
Casualties:	None

 

[Owen]

The Operation would be given a green light as whole amounts of Kosovo would fall back under Kosovan hands. Even though they weren't under Serbian occupation anymore, many homes and infrastructure would be destroyed and the lifestyle the country offered would not be ideal for raising families, hence the refugee intake of 25,000 by the end of January would remain.

At CFB Trenton, 2 CC-177 Globemasters of 429th Transport Squadron, 8th Wing, would be prepared on the tarmac. One Globemaster would be loaded with 50 Special Forces from Joint Task Force 2, based at Ottawa and transported down to Trenton by bus. They would be on sidewall seats while in the middle would be 13 cargo pallets of food, water and medical aid from the Canadian International Development Agency. The other Globemaster would have 50 personnel of the 1st Canadian Field Hospital, transported by bus from Petawawa. In the middle would be 13 cargo pallets of equipment used to set up a field hospital including medical devices, tents, medicines/vaccines and other medical supplies. The Globemasters would be loaded up with enough fuel to get them to three quarters of the way across the Atlantic, they would be refuelled at that point by 2 CC-150T Polaris aircraft from the 437th Transport Squadron, 8th Wing, who would also prepare at CFB Trenton to head to Kosovo, who would have enough range to get to Kosovo without refuelling. Once there they would be used as transport aircraft to transport refugees out of Kosovo. Onboard would be 50 personnel from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada and the Public Health Agency of Canada, to perform vetting on potential refugees.

The aircraft would get clearance to take off and would take off one by one in an eastern direction heading course FN -> GN -> HN (refuelling point) -> IN -> JN towards Gjakova Airport. Due to it being the middle of January, most of the airport would be covered in snow and precaution would be taken on the potentially slippery runway.

 

[Joe]

On the way to the capital of Pristina, General Intelligence Directorate Team One (the team en route to investigate the Capitol), would make an immediate detour to Gjakova after receiving immediate orders from the Ministry of State to prep Gjakova Airport for Operation: Parasol II to commence. Passing through KLA checkpoints with ease, they would arrive at the airport and would find it undefended and undamaged from Serbian bombings and KLA attacks. Taking note of this, the General Intelligence Directorate Team One would set up a small base of operations to direct Canadian traffic as well as determine the airport's potential for transportation of Vietnamese forces as part of Operation: Kosovar Freedom.

 

[Owen]

The Globemasters and Polaris would finish their crossing of the Atlantic and the Mediterranean with the refuelling taking place somewhere over the Azores. They would begin their final approach to Gjakova. The whirling jets of the Globemasters would be heard over the city, this would be a testing time for the pilots who were unsure about the situation they were about to enter but would be receiving information via Vietnamese operatives on the ground. They would be unsure about the risk of anti-air missiles hitting the aircraft but would be confident due to the low-level of fighting in this area. One by one the Globemasters would touch down follow by the two Polaris aircraft. They would taxi to a disused tarmac area. The back and side doors of the Globemasters would open, the Special Forces and Army Medics would exit through the side door and loadmasters would begin unloading the 13 pallets of aid and medical equipment from the back of them. The Special Forces would begin forming a security perimeter around the four aircraft on the tarmac, conducting reconnaissance patrols around the airport. The members of the 1st Canadian Field Hospital would begin setting up in another disused tarmac area, a 50-bed field hospital with the tents and equipment they brought with them. This field hospital would be used to treat any civilian casualties in the area. Aid would be at the ready to be distributed from the field hospital and it would essentially act as a temporary Canadian Armed Forces Headquarters for Kosovo and aid distribution point, along with being a point of departure for refugees.

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[Owen]

The personnel on the ground at Gjakova Airport would hear of the devastating news that the greatest Canadian band of all time, Nickelback, had died in a car crash. They would all come together in formation and would salute the Canadian flag flying high and begin to sing the national anthem:

"My best friend gave me the best advice
He said each day's a gift and not a given right
Leave no stone unturned, leave your fears behind
And try to take the path less traveled by
That first step you take is the longest stride

If today was your last day
And tomorrow was too late
Could you say goodbye to yesterday?
Would you live each moment like your last?
Leave old pictures in the past
Donate every dime you have?
If today was your last day
(If today was your last day)

Against the grain should be a way of life
What's worth the prize is always worth the fight
Every second counts 'cause there's no second try
So live like you'll never live it twice
Don't take the free ride in your own life

If today was your last day
And tomorrow was too late
Could you say goodbye to yesterday?
Would you live each moment like your last?
Leave old pictures in the past
Donate every dime you have?
Would you call old friends you never see?
Reminisce old memories
Would you forgive your enemies?
Would you find that one you're dreamin' of?
Swear up and down to God above
That you finally fall in love
If today was your last day

If today was your last day
Would you make your mark by mending a broken heart?
You know it's never too late to shoot for the stars
Regardless of who you are
So do whatever it takes
Cause you can't rewind a moment in this life
Let nothin' stand in your way
Cause the hands of time are never on your side

If today was your last day
And tomorrow was too late
Could you say goodbye to yesterday?
Would you live each moment like your last?
Leave old pictures in the past
Donate every dime you have?
Would you call old friends you never see?
Reminisce old memories
Would you forgive your enemies?
Would you find that one you're dreamin' of?
Swear up and down to God above
That you finally fall in love
If today was your last day"

 

[Owen]

400 Kosovan refugees would've arrived at Gjakova by now, which is enough to fill each CC-150T Polaris, capable of carrying 200 passengers. The refugees would be vetted and have documentation checked by IRC Staff and would have a health assessment by the Public Health Agency of Canada. Some would have wounds and other medical conditions checked by the Canadian Army Medics. Most would be vaccinated by the Army Medics in accordance with the standards required by the Public Health Agency. Once they were all vetted, were given refugee visas for Canada and temporary travel documents if they didnt have a passport and passed medical checks they would board the CC-150T Polaris aircraft. The two aircraft would take off from Gjakova heading to Neuburg Air Base in Germany entirely in sector JN. This was due to the offer from Germany to use the air bases in operations in Kosovo. They would fly north-west heading out over Montenegro, avoiding Serbian-controlled airspace. Royal Canadian Air Force flight attendants would serve the refugees onboard with refreshments, a small lunch meal along with complimentary water, juice and soft drinks.

The Canadian Government would fund for the charter of 2 Air Canada 787-9 aircraft to be flown to Neuburg Air Base to take the refugees from Germany and onwards to Toronto-Pearson International Airport and Montreal-Pierre Elliot Trudeau International Airport where they would split evenly in temporary accomodation between CFB Valcartier and CFB Kingston. The German Air Force would be alerted of the incoming aircraft from both Air Canada and the Royal Canadian Air Force.

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@JamieA

 

[Owen]

With the collapse of the very short-lived military regime in Serbia and what seems to be an end to their rhetoric towards Kosovo and ethnic Kosovans/Albanians, the Operation would be declared over for the overseas (expeditionary) component. The operation was able to get 4,000 refugees out of Kosovo and in temporary accomodation in CFB Valcartier and CFB Kingston in Canada. The operation will now move to focusing on resettling those refugees into the community in Canada and will now fall under control of Canada Command rather than Canadian Expeditionary Force Command. One of the CC-150T's would have the 50 Special Forces onboard and the other would have the 50 Army Medics onboard. The Medical equipment would be loaded into one of the C-17's, the other C-17 would be completely empty. The aircraft would refuel fully and take off towards CFB Trenton, Ontario. Three quarters of the way across the Atlantic, the CC-150T's would refuel the C-17's with enough fuel to make it to CFB Trenton. 21,000 placements for Kosovan refugees will still be provided in Canada for those who wish to make their own way to Canada, but this cap has been extended to the end of 2014, rather than just January.

 

[Dragon]

The Irish Government would offer the refugees the right to seek asylum and take up residence on Irish soil provided those wishing to enter have marketable skills and proof of financial independence so as to avoid becoming public charges.

 

[Owen]

By now, the 4,000 refugees who were staying at CFB Valcartier and CFB Kingston would be processed by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada and would have appropriate vaccinations for living in Canada by the Public Health Agency. The IRC would've been working around the clock to get them resettled in the community. The following is a breakdown of how many refugees were settled and where:

Greater Toronto Area: 1,300
Greater Montreal: 600 (Approved by the Quebec Government)
Greater Vancouver: 700
Calgary: 300
Ottawa-Gatineau: 300 (Approved by the Quebec Government for Gatineau)
Hamilton: 200
Halifax: 100
London: 100
Edmonton: 200
Winnipeg: 200

They would all begin programs to get them settled in the community, those living outside of Quebec would be given English language lessons for free provided by the Canadian Government and those living inside Quebec would be given French language lessons for free provided by the Canadian Government and Quebec Government. The aircraft and all military personnel involved on the operation would be relieved of their duties.

Operation concluded.