Chad mission 'one of the most important yet'

The head of the Irish Defence Forces says the peacekeeping mission to Chad is one of the most important ever undertaken by the State.

An advance party of 230 of Irish Army Rangers have been literally preparing the ground for the arrival of close to 400 troops next month as part of a European Union force with a UN mandate to keep the peace in the civil war torn country.

Eighteen nations will be involved in the deployment under the command of Limerick man, Lieutenant General Pat Nash.

Famine and banditry have led to the establishment of refugee camps in the eastern region of Chad and Irish personnel have been uncovering wells for the local population ahead of the arrival of mechanised infantry in armoured personnel carriers on a four-month tour of duty from Ireland.