The Swedish Support Force backing up the Ministry for Foreign Affairs in evacuations from Sudan
As a result of the conflict in Sudan, the Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs and the Swedish Armed Forces are carrying out evacuations of persons domiciled in Sweden from Sudan. The Support Force is backing up the Ministry in its consular efforts to help the evacuees.
The Swedish Support Force is a collaboration between MSB, the Swedish Police and the National Board of Health and Welfare. The Swedish Red Cross, Save the Children and the Church of Sweden are also important partners in the Support Force.
“In the event of a mission MSB provides the Support Force with its command, crisis support, logistics and communications. Here in Sweden we manage coordination of the partner organisations involved in the mission,” says Elin Holmström at MSB.
About the Swedish Support Force
The Swedish Support Force is staffed by around 200 people with the special skills required for these missions. A suitable number of these staff members will be selected in the event of a mission.
The Force includes employees from MSB, the National Board of Health and Welfare, the Swedish Police, as well as from the Church of Sweden, the Swedish Red Cross and Save the Children. It is flexible and can be assembled on the basis of needs on the ground when a disaster occurs, e g in the event of a natural disaster, a terrorist attack, major accidents, outbreaks of infectious diseases, or political unrest.
The Swedish Support Force operates on instruction from the Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs in support of the embassy or consulate in the country in question. It is the Swedish foreign mission or consulate that initially assesses when and how Swedish nationals in distress need help.
Latest reviewed: 27 April 2023