Defence Minister begins Chad visit

Defence Minister Willie O’Dea today begins an official three-day visit to Irish troops serving in Chad.

The Eufor-mandated mission, which currently includes 416 Defence Forces personnel, will come under the command of the UN on March 15.

Mr O’Dea will hold talks tonight in Chad capital N’Djamena with senior UN officials and Chadian political leaders to be briefed on the current political situation in the region.

Ireland is the second largest contributor of personnel to the Chad mission which is under the overall control of Co Limerick native Lieutenant General Pat Nash.

Eufor is handing over control of the mission to the United Nations Mission in the Central African Republic and Chad (Minurcat).

Mr O’Dea will be accompanied on the trip by Chief of Staff of the Defence Forces, Lt Gen Dermot Earley, and will also meet Lt Gen Nash before travelling to the Irish base camp, Camp Ciara, in Goz Beida to meet many of the Irish personnel.

“The TD will also hold talks with senior NGO officials to be briefed on the humanitarian situation on the ground and will visit a refugee camp to meet aid workers and to see conditions at first hand,” a spokesman said.

Mr O’Dea will also tour an Irish area of operations in Goz Beida.

Almost 450,000 refugees and internally displaced people who have fled the violent and horrific conflict in Darfur are living in refugee camps along the border between Chad and Sudan.

Irish troops are responsible for protecting and securing the area around these camps to ensure that the refugees can live free from fear of attack and that humanitarian aid is safely distributed to them.

“I am very much looking forward to meeting our troops on the ground in Chad who are doing a tremendous job under extremely difficult conditions and terrain,” said Mr O’Dea.

“The overall security situation in the Irish area of operations is currently calm but volatile.

“I know our troops have made a real and lasting difference on the ground over the last 12 months.”