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Dismas Nkunda: +256 782 310404

South Africa, Egypt must emulate Ethiopia on helicopters to hybrid force

(KAMPALA, February 8) The Darfur Consortium has welcomed the decision by the Ethiopian government to offer helicopters to the hybrid African Union-United Nations Mission in Darfur (UNAMID), but urged other African countries such as Egypt and South Africa to also make contributions.

It emerged this week that Ethiopia and Bangladesh were the first two countries to commit helicopters that are urgently needed by the troops in Darfur.

“We welcome the gesture from Ethiopia and very much hope that other African countries like South Africa and Egypt will show the same commitment,” said Dismas Nkunda, spokesperson for the Darfur Consortium, a grouping of over 50 African and international civil society organizations working to bring a just end to the conflict in Darfur.

“In the vast expanse and poor roads of Darfur, helicopters are absolutely critical to the mobility of the hybrid force, which in turn is essential in ensuring that the force is able to respond quickly to emerging problems. There are two other African countries, Egypt and South Africa, which have the capacity to offer similar helicopters and ease the work of the force,” he added.

United States ambassador to the United Nations, Zalmay Khalilzad, said this week that Ethiopia promised to loan three attack and two transport helicopters.

More helicopters are, however, urgently needed. According to the assessment which the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon submitted to the Security Council last year at least 24 helicopters – three tactical helicopter units and one light tactical helicopter unit – will be needed for the force, which is expected to include 26,000 troops when fully deployed, to effectively operate.

Published:

http://www.sudantribune.com/spip.php?article25890

1 TOGO SANS ETHNIES

Action Professionals Association for the People

Aegis Trust Rwanda

African Centre for Democracy and Human Rights Studies

African Center for Development

African Center for Justice and Peace Studies

Africa Internally Displaced Persons Voice (Africa IDP Voice)

African Security Dialogue and Research (ASDR)

African Women's Development and Communications Network (FEMNET)

The Ahueni Foundation

Alliances for Africa

Amman Centre for Human Rights Studies

Andalus Institute for Tolerance

Anti-Slavery International

Arab Coalition for Darfur

Arab Program for Human Rights Activists

Association Africaine de Defense des Droits de l'Homme (ASADHO)

Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies

Centre for Minority Rights Development (CEMIRIDE)

Centre for Research Education and Development of Freedom of Expression and Associated Rights (CREDO)

Citizens for Global Solutions

Conscience International

Conseil National Pour les Libertés en Tunisie

Darfur Alert Coalition (DAC)

Darfur Centre for Human Rights and Development

Darfur Leaders Network (DLN)

Darfur Reconciliation and Development Organization (DRDO)

Darfur Relief and Documentation Centre

East Africa Law Society

Egyptian Organization for Human Rights

Femmes Africa Solidarité

La Fédération Internationale des Droits de l'Homme (FIDH)

Forum of African Affairs (FOAA)

Human Rights First

Human Rights Institute of South Africa (HURISA)

Institute for Human Rights and Development in Africa

Institute for Security Studies

Inter-African Union for Human Rights (UIDH)

Interights

International Commission of Jurists (ICJ Kenya)

International Refugee Rights Initiative

Justice Africa

Justice and Peace Commission

Lawyers for Human Rights

Lebanese Association for Democratic Elections

Legal Resources Consortium-Nigeria

Ligue Tunisienne des Droits de l'Homme

Makumira University College, Tumaini University

Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA)

Minority Rights Group

National Association of Seadogs

Never Again International

Open Society Justice Initiative

Pan-African Movement

Rencontre Africaine Pour la Defense des Droits de l'Homme (RADDHO)

Sierra Leone STAND Chapter

Sisters' Arabic Forum for Human Rights (SAF)

Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP)

Sudan Organization Against Torture (SOAT)

Syrian Organization for Human Rights

Unitarian Universalist Service Committee (UUSC)

Universal Human Rights Network

WARIPNET

Women Initiative Nigeria (WIN)