Darfur force creation 'too slow'
The peacekeeping force will seek to protect the local population from the conflict between rebels and the government
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Sunday, 02, Dec 2007 09:21
The leader of the peacekeeping force to be deployed in Darfur, Sudan, has warned of a severe shortage of troops and equipment for the mission.
General Martin Luther Agwai said the effort was "behind schedule", adding that he expected under a third of the troops committed to the cause to be ready by January 1st, when the operation is due to begin.
Gen Agwai warned that he was already facing a "Herculean task" in stopping the conflict between rebel groups and the government which has left 200,000 people dead and resulted in over a million refugees.
He said: "If we sincerely are committed to seeing peace in Darfur then people who are perceived to be the friends of the government and the people of Sudan - this is now their challenge.
"This is now the time to stand up and be counted and do everything possible to help us have the resources that is required."
He added that pledges to equip the force with 24 helicopters had not been fulfilled which would make it even harder for the force to meet the goals of its mandate.
World leaders such as British prime minister Gordon Brown and US president George Bush have made repeated pledges to stop the violence in the African country and succeeded in agreeing on the deployment of peacekeepers to the area after lengthy negotiations.
The combined United Nations and African Union force is set to begin operations in the new year.