China deploys more troops in Darfur and transfers others from South Sudan
June 27, 2008 (BEIJING) — China announced today the deployment of the second batch of peacekeepers to Darfur by mid-July. Beijing also announced the temporary transfer of its troops in south Sudan to Darfur.
China a close ally to the Sudanese government agreed to send a 315-member engineering unit to Darfur, the first group of 143 engineers had already been dispatched to Darfur since November 2007. The Chinese engineers are to build roads and bridges, and dig wells, and have also brought a medical team.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Liu Jianchao said today China will deploy its follow-up troops next month. “According to the UN’s arrangement on the transportation of materials and equipment, China will deploy its follow-up troops in the region by mid-July.” Jianchao said.
The spokesperson also announced the temporary transfer of some of its troops and facilities stationed in the UN mission in South Sudan to Darfur, helping the engineer troops in Darfur with construction of camps and roads.
Chinese troops, located in Western Bahr el Ghazal State, are supposed to be 435 officers and soldiers in total, has 275 engineers, 100 transport troops and 60 medical staff.
China is also ready to send well-diggers and relevant equipment to Darfur to solve the water shortage facing the hybrid forces, the Chinese official said.
He also reiterated China’s concern about the situation in Darfur saying that his country supported the duel-track strategy that promotes the deployment of peace-keeping mission and political negotiation in a balanced way in order to solve the Darfur issue politically.
He further reaffirmed the willing of Beijing to work with the international community and continue “to make our contribution for the early realization of peace, stability and development in Darfur.”
More than 2.5 million Darfur civilians have fled to camps and 300,000 been killed in four years of fighting between the region’s ethnic rebels and the Sudanese government or militia allies. Several previous peace deals have failed, and refugees along with aid workers continue to face daily insecurity.
(ST)