Prior to the beginning of Operation Barkhane, 10 French troops had been killed in Mali as part of Operation Serval.
In the subsequent six years since the launch of Operation Barkhane in 2014, a further 37 French troops have died on operations, bringing the total number of French troops killed during the military intervention in Mali and the Sahel to 47.
The vast distances of Operation Barkhane force's area of operations across the Sahel pose a significant challenge in dealing with French casualties, with wounded troops being possibly up to 1,100 kilometres (680 mi) from advanced medical aid.
To overcome these challenges, the French military created helicopter-mobile medical teams which can rapidly carry out MEDEVAC missions and transport casualties to more advanced medical care.
Between 2013 and 2016, French forces sustained 1,272 casualties which required MEDEVAC; of these casualties, 18.2% were wounded in action, 27.4% suffered trauma injuries and 46.6% were suffering from disease or sickness.
Prior to the beginning of Operation Barkhane, 10 French troops had been killed in Mali as part of Operation Serval. In the subsequent six years since the launch of Operation Barkhane in 2014, a further 37 French troops have died on operations, bringing the total number of French troops killed during the military intervention in Mali and the Sahel to 47. The vast distances of Operation Barkhane force's area of operations across the Sahel pose a significant challenge in dealing with French casualties, with wounded troops being possibly up to 1,100 kilometres (680 mi) from advanced medical aid. To overcome these challenges, the French military created helicopter-mobile medical teams which can rapidly carry out MEDEVAC missions and transport casualties to more advanced medical care. Between 2013 and 2016, French forces sustained 1,272 casualties which required MEDEVAC; of these casualties, 18.2% were wounded in action, 27.4% suffered trauma injuries and 46.6% were suffering from disease or sickness.
Operation Barkhane