Dutch minister offers Rwanda troops medical equipment for Darfur

KIGALI, Rwanda, June 14, 2005 (AP) — The Dutch defense minister offered Rwandan troops medical equipment and other materials Tuesday for use during their deployment as peacekeepers in Sudan’s troubled Darfur region.

wandan soldiers belonging to the African Union wait to board a plane to be dispatched to the Darfur region of Sudan, April 2005. (Reuters).

Henk Kamp, on a two-day visit to Rwanda, also offered Rwandan President Paul Kagame transportation for his troops.

“We are ready to provide medical equipment to Rwanda’s forces and offer transportation and other materials for them to use in Darfur because they are doing a great job there,” Kamp told reporters.

At least 180,000 people have died – many from hunger and disease – in Darfur and about 2 million others have fled their homes to escape the conflict between rebels and government forces backed by pro-government militia.

Kemp also said that part of his visit was to assess the security situation in the region and to see what his government can offer to help restore stability.

“We believe giving support by development cooperation is not enough, we also need to offer support in rooting out armed groups and disarming the rebels in the region,” Kamp said.

The armed conflicts affecting Rwanda, Burundi, Uganda and Congo have caused the deaths of more than 3 million people and displaced millions more.