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| Africa Horn |
| Darfur peacekeepers finally get helicopters |
| 2010-02-17 |
| [Al Arabiya Latest] International peacekeepers in Sudan's Darfur region received their first five military helicopters on Tuesday, ending a more than two-year wait for air support in a strife-torn territory the size of Spain. Military commanders and activists have repeatedly called on Western powers to provide tactical helicopters for the joint U.N./African Union UNAMID peacekeeping force since it arrived in Sudan's rebellious West in January 2008. Senior U.N. officials said they struggled to find any of the vital aircraft because so many helicopters had already gone to other conflict zones, including Afghanistan. On Tuesday, Sudan's neighbor Ethiopia became the first country to respond to the call by sending five tactical helicopters to Nyala, the capital of South Darfur, said UNAMID. "This will make a huge difference ... Only one country has been able to help us. An African country has supported us," force spokesman Noureddine Mezni told Reuters. "We still need more, at least 18 in total. Up to now we have had zero tactical helicopters ... Imagine managing without this mobility in such a huge area." |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #1 So now all they need is pilots, and maintenance and maintenance and maintenance... take 18 copters to keep 5 airworthy. |
| Posted by: Skunky Glins**** 2010-02-17 20:45 |