Over 700 blue helmets sent home from Eritrea
By Tesfa-alem Tekle
March 14, 2008 (ADDIS ABABA) – More than 700 peacekeepers have been temporarily relocated to their home countries from Eritrea, the United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE) reported.
A total of 397 Jordanian blue helmets and 305 Indian troops have returned to their respective countries, and the Mission notes that more flights out of Asmara are scheduled for next week to fly remaining UN personnel in Eritrea home.
The decision to temporarily move UN personnel and equipment out of Eritrea was made last month after the country cut off fuel supplies to UNMEE, paralyzing the operation on that side of the disputed border with Ethiopia.
In a report to the Security Council made public last week, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said Eritrea’s restrictions on the mission’s activities breach the fundamental principles of peacekeeping and raise serious implications for the safety and security of blue helmets deployed around the world.
Calling the country’s hindrance of the temporary relocation of peacekeepers “unacceptable,” Mr. Ban wrote that Eritrea has an obligation under an agreement signed in 2000 to treat the peacekeepers with respect and dignity, guarantee their safety and security, and ensure their right to move freely and perform their mandated tasks.
But instead Eritrea had placed the mission in an “untenable situation” by repeatedly obstructing the blue helmets’ relocation efforts, the Secretary-General said.
in a report dated march3 Un secretary general Ban ki-moondirected troops monitering the border situation,to relocate untill a review of the situation is completed.
Eritrea began a fuel blokade of the Un troops monthes ago that eventually made the mission imposible.
Un officials say eritrea also cutoff food supply to the peace force,which Eritrea denies the allegation.
Eritrea says the united nations has not up held the rulings of an independent commission that awareded the key town of Badme to Eritrea.
Eritrea and Ethiopia fought border war in 1998 and 2000 that killed over 70,000.
(ST)