Five Ethiopian tactical helicopters arrive in Darfur next February
January 18, 2009 (KHARTOUM) – Five tactical helicopters will arrive in Darfur next month to join the African Union – United Nations peacekeeping force in the restive region, the hybrid operation said.
The main body of the Ethiopian Tactical Helicopter Unit “will arrive in Nyala, South Darfur on 22 January, while five of its helicopters are scheduled to join UNAMID’s peacekeeping force in mid-February,” the Mission said.
“These much-awaited helicopters will significantly enhance UNAMID’s capabilities to stabilize the security situation in Darfur,” it further stressed.
UN officials had received offers of helicopters from Bangladesh and Ethiopia. However they declined the Bangladeshi kit because it would not meet the UN requirements.
The Bangladeshi offer included inadequate range and inability to fly at night.
Rights groups published reports indicating that USA, Germany, France, United Kingdom, Canada, Italy, South Africa, Russia, Switzerland, Netherlands and Egypt among others have appropriate helicopters that they can make available for UNAMID.
UN Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations Alain Le Roy, during a visit to New Delhi last October said the Indian government is studying a demand to provide helicopters to Darfur mission.
“India has not yet committed the helicopters we requested for Sudan. They are, however, considering it,” he said.
According to international experts, conflict in Darfur has cost the lives of an estimated 300,000 people but Khartoum puts this figure far lower. It has also forced over 2.7 million to displace.
(ST)