More Ugandan police deployed in Darfur

August 9, 2009 (KHARTOUM) – Some 38 additional Ugandan police officers arrived today joining the Darfur hybrid peacekeeping mission (UNAMID).

A group of South African police is also scheduled to arrive in Darfur this week, while Police officers from Bangladesh, Germany, Philippines, Tajikistan and Zambia are currently in Khartoum awaiting deployment to Darfur.

Last week, some 114 Ugandan policemen had arrived to Darfur to replace some a team working within the UN African Union hybrid mission in Darfur since last year.

Judith Nabakooba, Uganda’s police spokesperson on Monday said the new group of peacekeepers had been deployed last week adding they would also serve for one year.

UNAMID’s police strength now stands at 2,143, just over 50 per cent of the authorized number.

United Nations Security Council resolution 1769 (2007) authorized the deployment of an appropriate civilian police component consisting of more than 3,500 police officers, with 19 formed police units comprising up to 140 personnel each.

(ST)