GHANAIAN TROOPS JOIN UN MISSION IN CHAD, CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC

GHANAIAN TROOPS JOIN UN MISSION IN CHAD, CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC
New York, May 14 2009 12:00PM
Over 100 Ghanaian soldiers have joined the United Nations peacekeeping mission in the war-ravaged nations of Chad and the Central African Republic (CAR), it was announced today.

In a move welcomed by the mission, known as MINURCAT, 131 Ghanaian troops are in transit and will replace departing forces in the Farchana area of eastern Chad.

They will join 71 Ghanaian blue helmets deployed to <"http://www.un.org/Depts/dpko/missions/minurcat/">MINURCAT last March, and at full strength, the mission will include 800 peacekeepers from Ghana.

In September 2007, the Security Council approved the establishment in Chad and CAR, in concert with the European Union (EU), of a UN-mandated, multidimensional presence, including European Union (EU) military forces, to help protect civilians and facilitate humanitarian aid to thousands of people uprooted due to insecurity in the two countries and neighbouring Sudan.

On 15 March, UN peacekeepers took over the military and security responsibilities of EUFOR after the Council approved the deployment of an additional 5,500 blue helmets to serve with MINURCAT. However, deployment currently stands at half that level.

Eastern Chad faces an acute humanitarian challenge, with over 290,000 Sudanese refugees from the conflict in Darfur, Sudan, more than 180,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) and a further 700,000 individuals among host communities in need of food, water and health care.

Northern CAR has also been affected by a spill-over from Darfur as well as by displacement resulting from other armed conflicts.
________________

CLASHES IN EASTERN CHAD HAMPERING AID EFFORTS, SAYS SENIOR UN OFFICIAL

CLASHES IN EASTERN CHAD HAMPERING AID EFFORTS, SAYS SENIOR UN OFFICIAL
New York, May 8 2009 3:00PM
The recent clashes in eastern Chad are hindering the efforts of the United Nations and its partners to assist the hundreds of thousands of civilians taking refuge there, a senior peacekeeping official said today, calling on all parties to respect the humanitarian operations taking place in the area.

Assistant Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations Dmitry Titov told an open meeting of the Security Council that the UN Mission in Chad and the Central African Republic (MINURCAT) was able to confirm that the Chadian National Army was conducting air strikes against a rebel column in eastern Chad, in the area of Goz Beida.

While no significant population displacements have been reported as a result of the fighting so far, the clashes have "seriously compromised" the ability of UN agencies and their non-governmental organization (NGO) partners to deliver humanitarian assistance, he said.

Just two days ago, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon voiced increasing concern at the fighting and called for the respect of the humanitarian character of the operations of the UN and NGOs in eastern Chad.

The region is home to over 290,000 Sudanese refugees from the conflict in Darfur, more than 180,000 IDPs and a further 700,000 individuals among host communities in need of food, water and health care.

Mr. Titov said that the deteriorating security situation has prompted humanitarian actors, including three UN agencies and 11 NGOs, to relocate their non-essential staff as a precautionary measure.

With the rainy season beginning, it is critically important that the humanitarian community is able to pre-position essential humanitarian supplies and materials, especially in areas which become essentially isolated due to flooded and impassable roads, he said. "Should the current situation worsen, it could potentially jeopardize this important work."

Mr. Titov recalled that on 3 May in Doha, the Governments of Chad and Sudan signed a new agreement to normalize relations and deny any support on their respective territories to rebel groups that are hostile to either of them. However, only two days later, a Chadian Government spokesperson accused Sudan of sending armed elements into eastern Chad, a charge which Khartoum denied.

"It is essential that both Governments act upon the Doha Agreement and past commitments to prevent further rebel incursions from either side of the border," said Mr. Titov. "It is also essential that armed opposition groups, on both sides of the border, realize that efforts to seize power through force are unacceptable."

He added that MINURCAT, which is tasked with protecting civilians in danger, facilitating the delivery of humanitarian aid and personnel, as well as safeguarding UN personnel and facilities, still lacks some of the troops and 14 of the 18 helicopters it requires.

"As a result, the military force lacks the ability to observe and track incidents as they develop, as well as a force reserve with rapid mobility to reinforce sites or react to changing circumstances," he said, urging the Council to join Mr. Ban in his appeal to potential troop contributors to provide MINURCAT with the assets it needs.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported today that despite the ongoing clashes between armed groups in eastern Chad, aid operations are continuing for 250,000 Darfur refugees, 18,000 Central African Republic refugees, and 166,000 Chadian IDPs and their host families.

The UN in Chad has called on all parties to respect international humanitarian law and specifically to ensure protection of civilians, particularly women and children. It has also urged that humanitarian space be respected to allow aid to continue to reach those in greatest need.
________________

UN FORCE MOURNS PEACEKEEPERS MURDERED IN EASTERN CHAD

The United Nations Mission in the Central African Republic and Chad (MINURCAT) today expressed its dismay over the killing yesterday of a peacekeeper and two soldiers of the European Union force (EUFOR) by a fellow soldier in a camp in Abeché in eastern Chad.

"A French soldier of the EUFOR military operation killed two of his cohorts as well as a Togolese UN peacekeeper for reasons yet to be determined," the Mission said in a news release issued in N'Djamena.

Chadian authorities, in collaboration with France and EUFOR, are investigating the incident and searching for the perpetrator.

MINURCAT reiterated its full confidence in EUFOR and conveyed its condolences to the families of the victims.

In September 2007, the Security Council approved the establishment of a UN-mandated, multidimensional presence, including EU military forces, in Chad and CAR to help protect civilians and facilitate humanitarian aid to thousands of people uprooted due to insecurity in the two countries and neighbouring Sudan.

On 15 March, UN peacekeepers took over the military and security responsibilities of EUFOR after the Council approved the deployment of an additional 5,500 blue helmets to serve with MINURCAT.
________________

BLUE HELMETS TAKE OVER FROM EUROPEAN FORCE IN CHAD, CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC

BLUE HELMETS TAKE OVER FROM EUROPEAN FORCE IN CHAD, CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC
New York, Mar 15 2009 1:00PM

United Nations peacekeepers in Chad and the Central African Republic (CAR) today took over the military and security responsibilities of European forces in the two strife-torn nations.

Today's transfer, which took place at midnight local time, was marked by a ceremony, attended by Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations Alain Le Roy, held in the Chadian city of Abéché, where MINURCAT's headquarters are located.

In January, the Security Council approved the deployment of over 5,500 blue helmets, 300 police officers, 25 military liaison officers and 5,200 military personnel with the UN mission (MINURCAT) to replace the European troops (EUFOR), which has been in place since March 2008.

In a statement issued by his spokesperson, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today commended EUFOR for the key role it has played in bolstering security for internally displaced pe
rsons (IDPs), refugees and other vulnerable groups in eastern Chad and north-eastern CAR.

"As MINURCAT assumes its new responsibilities, the Secretary-General is confident that the force will build upon and strengthen EUFOR's military achievements while continuing to execute the full range of its mandated tasks, including to contribute to the promotion of human rights and the rule of law and to support the development of the Chadian community police (Détachement Intégré de Sécurité) deployed in eastern Chad," the statement added.

Eastern Chad faces an acute humanitarian challenge with over 290,000 Sudanese refugees from the Darfur war, more than 180,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) and a further 700,000 individuals among host communities in need of food, water and health care. Northern CAR has also been affected by a spill-over from the Darfur conflict as well as by other armed groups.

In its January resolution, the Security Council stressed that the multidimensional pres
ence in Chad and military presence in the CAR is intended to help create the security conditions conducive to a voluntary, secure and sustainable return of refugees and displaced persons, by boosting security protection, facilitating the provision of humanitarian aid, and promoting reconstruction and economic and social development.

The resolution empowers MINURCAT to "take all necessary measures, within its capabilities" to contribute to protecting civilians in danger, particularly refugees and IDPs, facilitate delivery of humanitarian aid and the free movement of humanitarian personnel, and protect UN personnel, facilities, installations and equipment.

Mr. Ban also said today that he is "grateful" for several EUFOR contributors' and new troop contributing countries' commitments to the UN force, and encouraged Member States to continue filling remaining gaps to ensure that MINURCAT is equipped to execute its mandate.

Currently, the Mission is composed of some 300 uniformed pers
onnel, mostly police, plus some 325 international civilians.

"In order to succeed, MINURCAT will need the active support of the Governments of Chad and the Central African Republic," the Secretary-General said, adding that he is grateful to both Governments for "their cooperation during the transition period and looks forward to working with them in the implementation of MINURCAT's mandate."

In September 2007, the Council approved the establishment in Chad and CAR, in concert with the European Union (EU), of a UN-mandated, multidimensional presence, including European Union (EU) military forces, in Chad and CAR to help protect civilians and facilitate humanitarian aid to thousands of people uprooted due to insecurity in the two countries and neighbouring Sudan.

________________