CONFIDENTIAL
3RD DRAFT
The Middle East and Africa
73. The Army and Poyal Air Force contributed to several famine
relief operations during 1974. Trucks were provided from Army
stocks and delivered both overland via the arduous trans-Sahara
route or by the Royal Air Force to the Sahelian region of West
Africa, where they were used to help distribute food.
74. In Ethiopia, Royal Fngineers, supported by Army helicopters,
initiated a "Food for "ork" road construction scheme, during which
over 100 km of basic road was built, and local inhabitants were
trained as supervisors to continue the task after the Royal
Engineers returned to the United Kingdom. In addition, Royal Corps
of Transport driving instructors ran courses for local drivers of
the British-supplied food trucks. Royal Engineers also undertook
road and bridging tasks in Kenya, Malawi and southern Sudan.
The Far East and Indian Ocean
75. In February 1974 the ocean survey ship HMS Hydra helped to
free the Japanese fishing vessel Hoyo-Maru from rocks near Nelson
Island in the Chagos Archipelago. In December 1974 two RAF
aircraft took part in relief operations following the destruction
of Darwin by Cyclone Tracy.
Aerial Surveys
76.
Photographic reconnaissance aircraft of the Royal Air Force
have carried out aerial surveys in Kenya, the Yemen Arab Republic,
Oman and Fiji.
77.
EXERCISES
British forces have again taken part in a wide variety of
exercises outside the NATO area, either under the auspices of
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