19 August 2009 -- The UNAMID Police today received a boost in its deployment of Formed Police Units (FPU) with the arrival of a 46-person advance party of Jordanian police personnel. The remaining 280 personnel are scheduled to arrive on August 28. Jordan will deploy two FPUs made up of 140 personnel each which will be based in El Fasher and Kabkabiya in North Darfur. The advance party will be responsible for setting up equipment and accommodation in preparation for the arrival of the main body scheduled for later this month.

The FPU's main tasks are to protect civilians, conduct community policing in South Darfur -- especially in Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps -- investigate incidents, and support UN agencies and international organizations in their delivery of humanitarian assistance. Besides providing security, they will also assist national authorities and UN agencies in delivering humanitarian assistance in times of need and conduct escort duties for other UNAMID components.

Jordan is the fifth country to contribute an FPU to UNAMID, after Bangladesh, Indonesia, Nepal and Nigeria. UNAMID is also expecting the arrival of a Senegalese FPU later this month. A total of 19 FPUs was mandated by the Security Council resolution establishing UNAMID.

Meanwhile, UNAMID police also received nine individual police officers from the Philippines and eight from Namibia.

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