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Africa Horn | ||
China, Russia delaying Sudan peacekeepers, UN says | ||
2006-01-15 | ||
UNITED NATIONS - Russia and China have delayed promised helicopters and medical units to a UN peacekeeping force in Sudan, thereby causing other countries to postpone sending troops, a UN official said. The United Nations expects 10,000 troops in southern Sudan to monitor a peace agreement signed a year ago that ended nearly three decades of civil war between rebels and the Khartoum government. But only about 4,000 have arrived. Jan Pronk, the special UN envoy to Sudan, told a news conference on Friday that Russian transport helicopters and a Chinese medical unit were considered vital before certain nations would send troops. Russiaâs parliament in December approved sending 200 soldiers and four Mi-8 transport helicopters, along with other equipment to Sudan on President Vladimir Putinâs request. âWe are waiting already a year,â Pronk said. âThey are essential. We need the aviation units.â
However, Pronk said that without international support the expectations of the people in the south would falter. âThat is a major risk. There is peace, indeed, but where is the peace dividend?â he asked.
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Posted by:Steve White |