17 August 2009 -- The African Union-United Nations Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) today received the first batch of the remaining Egyptian contingent consisting of 95 personnel. The remaining of the contingent will arrive on 20 and 22 August. The new arrivals are part of the second infantry battalion, consisting of 515 personnel already on the ground, which arrived in Darfur on 30 March 2009. When fully deployed, they will bring the battalion to its full strength of 800 personnel. They will be based in Ed Al Fulsan and Tulus in South Darfur.

The Egyptian infantry battalion in South Darfur joins the three Nigerian battalions deployed in the south. It will conduct security patrols within its area of responsibility, enhance security and encourage confidence-building within the local population, and conduct escorts for humanitarian convoys.

Egypt’s sizeable contribution to UNAMID includes an infantry battalion, an engineering company, a signal company and a heavy and medium transport company. This brings the total number of Egyptians serving with UNAMID, including the new arrivals, to almost 2,200 personnel.

Egypt is one of the ten largest contributors of military and police personnel to United Nations peacekeeping operations.

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