Irish troops give safe escort to aid workers
Irish troops in Chad’s volatile eastern flank evacuated dozens of aid workers today after reports of rebel movements in the troubled area.
More than 80 humanitarian and security employees were escorted some 35km by armed military convoy to the Irish base at Goz Beida.
None of the Irish soldiers operating under the UN force encountered the rebels - believed to be Chadians backed by the Sudanese.
A Defence Forces spokesman said the 99th Infantry Battalion have been patrolling the area and carrying out surveillance operations for a number of days.
“As yet our troops, operating as part of the UN force MINURCAT, have had no contact with these rebel forces,” he said.
“We are taking all necessary precautions and continue to actively monitor the situation to ensure a safe and secure environment in our area.”
The staff – 57 humanitarian and 15 local security workers – were working at refugee and Internally Displaced People (IDP) sites in Goz Amer, around 35km south of the Irish Camp Ciara.
Other workers have remained at the camp, which accommodates around 70,000 people in total.
Staff from UNHCR, the World Food Programme and Oxfam were among those caught-up in the evacuation.
Last June Irish troops came under fire during a battle between anti-government rebels and Chadian forces, although there were no casualties.
The troops deployed to the African state early last year as part of an EU peace enforcement mission, which the UN took over in March.
The evacuation came as Defence Minister Willie O’Dea confirmed troops had been hit by a fuel crisis in the troubled state.
Fine Gael Defence spokesman Jimmy Deenihan branded the revelation disturbing.
“The minister’s admission in the Dáil that a fuel crisis has been ongoing in Chad since the takeover of the mission by the United Nations and that the crisis is set to continue for at least another three weeks is very disturbing,” he said.
“Without fuel Irish troops are very vulnerable.
“All power comes from generators and without fuel troops may be left in darkness.
“In a country as volatile as Chad operating without visibility is reckless. Irish troops have been fired on in the past in Chad and there is no need to expose them to further needless risk.”
