A ceremony was held today at the Lisbon Naval Base in Laranjeiro, Almada, where Minister Nuno Melo awarded military personnel involved in the humanitarian mission in Cape Verde with the National Defense medal for their services.
Following the floods in early August that impacted the islands of São Vicente and Santo Antão in Cape Verde, Portugal dispatched the NRP Sines ship with 56 military personnel onboard, debris removal equipment, a desalination unit for the hospital, drones for aerial imaging, and divers to support the affected population.
The minister stated that in São Vicente and Santo Antão, the situation involved 80,000 people without access to potable water, thousands of homes inundated with mud, and a significant number of displaced individuals. “The intervention of the NRP Sines sailors was crucial in restoring basic living conditions and dignity to the population.”
Nuno Melo highlighted that the Portuguese military provided communities with essential, albeit seemingly simple, resources such as potable water supply, repair of the desalination unit to restore production capacity, distribution of hundreds of meals, mud removal from homes, support for search and rescue operations, and the use of drones for critical measures.
“The presence of the Sines and its crew was a beacon of encouragement that instilled confidence, representing Portugal and its strong ties with Cape Verde, signifying the unity of the Portuguese-speaking nations and historical bonds that the sea does not divide,” he stated.
The navy ship NRP Sines had been on an open sea mission since April and was preparing to return to Portugal when it was redirected to Cape Verde.
“The arrival of NRP Sines signifies more than the end of a mission. It is the culmination of over four months of deploying Portugal globally via the Open Sea 2025 initiative, but it also marks the return of sailors who personify hope, returning for another humanitarian support mission for the populations affected by the floods in Cape Verde,” he emphasized.
During the open-sea mission, the NRP Sines navigated from the Atlantic to the Indian Ocean, docking in 11 countries and, according to the minister, conducted bilateral defense cooperation activities at each stop.
Speaking to journalists, the commander of NRP Sines, Silva Santos, explained that upon arrival on the island, priorities were quickly identified, with water restoration being paramount.
“There was no water on the island, so concurrently, the ship continued to produce and transport water from Santo Antão to supply the island’s critical services, particularly the hospital,” he said.
Asked about the honor received today, the commander commented that it reflects the work accomplished, but emphasized that missions are not undertaken with the aim of earning accolades.
“Our focus, as military personnel, is always to deliver our best,” he stated.
In his speech, the National Defense Minister also mentioned the support provided by military personnel from all branches of the armed forces in combating the wildfires that hit Portuguese territory, totaling nine thousand.
“It is important for the Portuguese people to know that the Armed Forces have been consistently committed to the special rural fire fighting unit, in both land and maritime missions,” he added, stating they were present in the most critical areas alongside other entities.
Nuno Melo stressed that “the whole of Portugal must understand that the military are not confined to their bases or barracks.”
“They have been and continue to be involved in surveillance, detection, aftermath, and firefighting, aerial reconnaissance, providing drone bases, along with engineering and communications support, psychological and logistical assistance, and sanitary support, offering beds and supply aid to operatives,” he said.
