Only 13000 peacekeepers would be in Darfur by the end of year – UN
September 17, 2008 (UNITED NATIONS) – Darfur joint peacekeeping force could deploy, up to the end of the year, only the half of the 26,000 peacekeepers allowed by the Security Council in its resolution 1769 of July 31, 207.
The newly appointed head of UN peacekeeping department, Alain Le Roy, said today that Ban’s 80 percent forecast was “a bit optimistic.”
“We are clearly having 3,000 more officers both troops and police units, coming into Darfur in the next two months, mostly Ethiopian and Egyptian (troops),” he said.
Also, Le Roy said the Thai and the Nepalese troops would not be in Darfur at the end of the year as expected.
He said the delay stemmed from the “lack of clarity of the answer from the Sudanese authorities in the last month” about the deployment of the contingents from Thailand and Nepal.
“They were prepared, but there was some hesitation, so they now have to prepare again and to order all the equipment,” he said.
His deputy, Edmond Mulet, further added that Thailand’s army now needs new authorization from Parliament to deploy its contingent. Thai leaders have been snarled for weeks in political unrest from anti-government demonstrations.
The French diplomat said there are on the ground “something like 9,900″ and we’ll have 3,000 more,” Le Roy said. “So we’ll have something like, not far from 13,000 by … even before, by the end of November.”
Regarding the 24 transport and attack helicopter needed by the UNAMID to protect Darfur civilians, Le Roy said “We still do not have any firm commitment for helicopters … I hear some rumors but no firm commitments.”
UN experts estimate 300,000 people have died and 2.5 million been driven from their homes since rebels took up arms in Darfur in 2003, accusing central government of neglect.
(ST)