Peacekeeping forces dismiss live-fire exercises in Darfur
November 10, 2008 (EL FASHER) — The hybrid peacekeeping mission angrily dismissed media announcement made by the Sudanese army about military exercises that it would launch in North Darfur during four days.
The Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) Public Service broadcasted Announcements through El Fasher Radio yesterday morning informing the population that the UNAMID Force would conduct live-fire exercises in the Dirwat Fashar area, east of El Fasher (North Darfur), from Monday 10 to Friday 14 November 2008.
These announcements warned citizens to stay away from the mentioned area to preserve their own lives and the safety of their properties.
“UNAMID categorically denies that it has planned, or will conduct, any live–fire military exercises. Had this been the case, UNAMID would have advised the Sudanese authorities, the media, and the population, directly and well in advance.”
The peacekeeping mission said “the Acting Force Commander intends to take up this matter with the SAF authorities for an explanation of their announcements and to ask for the release of an appropriate correction.”
The purpose of this live fire exercises is twofold. It offers first recruits the chance to get accustomed to their weapons so that they will know how to properly operate them. Secondly, this provides soldiers with an opportunity to fire live ammunition without having to worry about an actual enemy returning fire.
The recently deployed peacekeepers are mainly engineering units destined to build infrastructures and prepare the deployment of the military contingents. Also they need logistical means that delay they deployments.
Each battalion for UNAMID needs 26 Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs) and 80 trucks. Deployment of many battalions is delayed due to the lack of equipment or barracks. However the highly trained troops as it required by the UN standards arrive with their weapons.
The U.N.-African Union mission is supposed to protect civilians but the absence of a peace deal in Darfur makes its task even more difficult. At full strength it should be the world’s largest U.N.-funded peacekeeping mission.
However only around 10,000 of the 26,000 soldiers and police in the U.N.-African Union force have been deployed and the target of getting 80 percent on the ground by the end of the year had been abandoned.
(ST)