MINISTER FOR Defence Willie O’Dea has expressed concern about the UN mission in Chad, which does not have sufficient air support and where fuel has had to be rationed because of a widespread diesel shortage.

Only 10 of the 18 required military helicopters have been pledged for the mission, which changed in March from being EU-led to being a UN operation.

Irish Defence Forces personnel serving in Chad have been forced to cut back on “some routine patrols” because of the fuel shortage, and there is rationing at the Irish base Camp Ciara, which will continue at least until June 1st.

However, the Minister insisted the military authorities had “sufficient fuel to undertake any emergency journeys that are necessary or to respond to emergencies either by land or air”.

He also assured the Dáil that “there will not be any problem with medical evacuation”.

He told Fine Gael defence spokesman Jimmy Deenihan, that “it concerns me that there are shortfalls in the mission to date”.

Since the UN took over on March 15th, there “are some teething problems”, but he believed “the fuel crisis was unanticipated”.

He said Irish troops had been sent out along with other nations’ personnel in the 2,400-strong force “to do a job, and anything that prevents them doing it to the best of their capability is of concern to me”.

The fuel problems encountered by the UN were common to all of Chad because it was a countrywide crisis.

“The UN is fully exercised on the issue, and all possible sources of fuel” for contingents “are being investigated by the UN to meet the mission’s current needs”.

“This includes the airlifting of fuel from a neighbouring UN mission, which has been ongoing.”

Fuel conservation measures at the Irish camp were “constantly being reviewed”.

“While there have been some limitations on operations conducted by the Irish battalion, the maintenance of essential ‘life support’ systems in the Irish camp – water, cooking, sanitation, air conditioning etc – has continued to be prioritised by the Defence Forces.”

Mr Deenihan said the logistical support provided by the UN was not at the same level as when the EU was in charge, and “the UN did not stockpile enough diesel to ensure this problem would not happen”.

The Minister said “the situation should be substantially resolved within the next three weeks”.