16 February 2010 - The African Union-United Nations Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) today received five MI-35 tactical helicopters from Ethiopia. The helicopters arrived in Nyala, South Darfur, with 15 pilots and crew members onboard. They will join a 185 member advance team, including pilots, technicians and protection force, which arrived last month.

UNAMID JSR Ibrahim Gambari has expressed his most sincere gratitude to the Ethiopian government for this latest contribution to the Mission indicating that the helicopters will provide rapid response to areas which had been difficult to access by ground. “My hope is that other member states will come to the Mission’s assistance in providing critically needed aviation assets,” he added. UNAMID still requires 18 utility helicopters and two transport units.

The tactical helicopters will largely be used for troop deployment and monitoring the security situation in Darfur.

Ethiopia’s current contribution to the Mission includes a medium transport company, an infantry battalion, an engineering unit and a multi-role logistics company.