Egyptian technicians arrive to Darfur
May 21, 2008 (CAIRO) — An Egyptian technician group arrived to North Darfur to manage communication equipments for the hybrid peacekeeping mission in Darfur, the UN said.
United Nations Office in Cairo said that 92 Egyptian technicians in communications serving the United Nations African Union peacekeeping mission had left to work in al-Fasher where is located the headquarters of the UNAMID.
A second batch composed of 83 technicians will arrive soon to Darfur to manage communication equipments in the various headquarters of the United Nations.
The UN pointed out that these forces represent the first part of the peacekeeping troops, which Egypt has pledged to send to keep peace in Darfur, which Up to 1200 troops expected to be fully deployed next June.
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Egypt, along with Ethiopia, is among the first countries to send a strong contingent to the new force, which is still far from reaching full capacity. Sudan has voiced suspicions that western nations are hostile to the government and rejected their participation in Darfur 26000 peacekeeping troops.
More than 2.5 million civilians have fled to refugee camps since fighting broke out in Darfur, and the Sudanese government’s counterinsurgency is blamed for widespread atrocities. Several previous peace deals have failed, and refugees along with aid workers continue to face daily insecurity.
U.N. officials estimate that as many as 300,000 people may have been killed in the five-year-old Darfur conflict. Khartoum says the figure is only about 10,000.
(ST)