18 August 2008 -- With the arrival of 116 peacekeepers at El Fasher airport earlier today the advance party of the first Ethiopian Infantry Battalion to join UNAMID, the UN-AU Hybrid Operation in Darfur, has been completed.  A total of 347 Ethiopian peackeepers has arrived since Saturday.

This initial arrival will bring additional engineering capabilities to the Mission, especially in the areas of water installation, the erection of tents and electric power lines. The Ethiopian contingent will be deployed in the areas of Kulbus and Silea, in West Darfur.

This Ethiopian force is part of two battalions, 850 each, expected to be deployed in Darfur before the end of the year.