AFRICA:The Government is to send up to 350 soldiers to Chad and the Central African Republic to protect refugees from the conflict in Darfur.
Minister for Defence Willie O'Dea yesterday authorised the Defence Forces to send a reconnaissance mission to the western Sudan region with a view to sending a "substantial" contingent of 300-350 soldiers.
The announcement follows the approval on Tuesday by the UN Security Council of the deployment of a peacekeeping force to the region. Under the plan, 300 UN police officers will monitor camps accommodating those who have fled the violence in Darfur and internally displaced people. The police officers will be accompanied by 3,000 European Union troops during the one-year deployment. Asked what role the Irish troops would play, Mr O'Dea said: "There are a range of options open to us, including transportation, force protection and rapid response. Our most recent mission in Liberia gave us considerable experience in the provision of a quick reaction force."
The United Nations deployment was authorised under chapter 7 of the UN Charter, which allows the use of force.
In Chad, the new operation is expected to select, train and advise police to protect refugee camps near the Darfur border and in both countries make sure humanitarian aid reaches those in need.
More than 200,000 Darfur refugees and 173,000 displaced people are currently living in camps in eastern Chad, according to the UN.
