Clinical lessons from a non-combatant evacuation operation (NEO) in Sudan

Operation POLARBEAR was the UK Military response to the conflict in Sudan in 2023. This non-combatant evacuation operation (NEO) enabled the evacuation of over 2000 entitled persons with Role 1, Role 2 and a Medical Emergency Response Team providing medical contingency and MEDEVAC capability. The most common clinical presentation was heat illness and disease non-battle injuries, which were more prevalent than trauma. Lessons identified included limitations in current military modules, particularly for the management of chronic disease, paediatrics and environmental illness, as well as difficulties surrounding environmental health considerations. It proved essential for the composition of medical teams to reflect the population-at-risk, with general medical physicians and paediatric subspecialists considered valuable augmentees. With the current geopolitical climate becoming increasingly unstable, future NEOs are likely. We present this analysis to enhance understanding in this sphere and contribute to future preparedness.