Japan to provide mine detectors to support UN mission in Sudan

TOKYO, Jun 11, 2005 (Kyodo) — Japan plans to provide mine detectors, four-wheel-drive vehicles, tents and other items worth a total of about 200 million yen to support a U.N. peacekeeping mission to be deployed in southern Sudan, a government source said Saturday.

Japan also plans to dispatch a Foreign Ministry official to southern Sudan to join the staff of the United Nations Mission in Sudan, the source said.

The government, which has been in the final phase of negotiations with the United Nations over the support, hopes to make the decision formal through Cabinet approval sometime in July.

The items to be provided include 60 mine detectors and 10 four-wheel-drive vehicles, and 30 tents for use by UNMIS members, according to the source.

Japan has decided to provide mine detectors as numerous land mines have been left in southern Sudan as a result of a civil war during the last 20 years or so, becoming a major obstacle to humanitarian assistance as they hinder the transport of food and daily necessities, the source said.

Following a peace accord signed in January between the Sudanese government and the Sudan People’s Liberation Army, the U.N. Security Council adopted a resolution in March to send a peacekeeping mission to southern Sudan. About 10,000 peacekeepers will be deployed in November.

Japan decided in early April not to send Self-Defense Force members to UNMIS due mainly to security concerns.