Fuel shortages in Chad come at a dangerous time for Irish troops serving there, writes CONOR LALLY
IRISH TROOPS serving on the UN’s peace enforcement mission in Chad are there to provide protection to hundreds of thousands of refugees and internally displaced persons in camps in the eastern part of the country.
The Irish, and troops from other nationalities, are also mandated to provide a secure environment in which humanitarian and UN staff can work safely. There are two threats to that mandate.
Firstly, the region on the Chad-Sudan border where the Irish are based is beset with gangs of roaming bandits. They drive around in 4X4s attacking any facility where they believe they can steal fuel, money and goods.
Secondly, large groups of heavily-armed rebels opposed to the Chad government are active in the area. They have been known to kill indiscriminately and their activities are extremely unpredictable.
The Irish modus operandi in Chad is based on high-visibility shows of strength. The Irish troops patrol in armoured personnel carriers and 4X4 vehicles into the countryside for up to a week at a time.
One aim of the convoy patrols is to check for rebel or militia activity. The convoys are also designed to reassure locals.
Most crucially, the convoys of military vehicles deter bandits and rebels from engaging in any activities that would provoke intervention by the well-resourced and fully armed Irish forces.
The patrols are the backbone of the entire mission. The restrictions on the troops’ ability to secure their environment by patrolling comes at a time of increased fighting between local forces in eastern Chad.
An estimated 340 fighters were killed last week in clashes between the Chadian army and anti-government rebel groupings. The worst of the fighting took place in Am Dam, just west of the Irish troops’ base in Goz Beida.
The Irish troops’ need for a full supply of fuel to perform the crucial patrols is particularly pressing when considered against the background of other problems the UN is facing with the operational capability of its force.
Last month Edmund Melet, the UN’s assistant secretary general for peacekeeping operations, said the Chad MINURCAT mission had 2,425 troops when it should have 5,200 and was short 18 helicopters. The helicopter shortage and lack of “critical communications” units had weakened the mission’s ability to display its strength during long-range patrols, he said.
“I cannot sufficiently stress the risk posed by the lack of military helicopters for the force’s operational capability,” Mr Melet said in a statement.
He added that “alarm is growing” among humanitarian groups over an increasing number of armed attacks on aid workers.