El Fasher, 13 November 200 -- A new batch of the Egyptian Infantry Battalion consisting of 164 personnel arrived in El Fasher today. More personnel of the same battalion comprising of 326 are expected to arrive on 14 and 15 November 2008. The new batch will be deployed in Umm Kadada, North Darfur, where they will join the 177 advanced party that is already on the ground. The rest of the battalion, consisting of 184 personnel is expected to arrive at the end of this year.

UNAMID Deputy Force Commander, Major General Emmanuel Karake Karenzi, welcomed the Egyptian new arrivals and urged them to assimilate with their colleagues in the UNAMID Force. “You are now part of the larger force and must be prepared to work with your colleagues from different countries; I want you to look at yourself as part of one family, you are therefore more than soldiers of peace; you are also Ambassadors of the African Union and Ambassadors of the United Nations.”

Egypt’s contribution to UNAMID includes a Signal Company, Engineering Company, a Heavy transport Company and another Infantry Battalion that is expected to arrive in the soon future.

In addition to the 10 Battalions currently on the ground from Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal and South Africa, UNAMID is expecting an additional 8 Infantry Battalions; Egypt (2), Ethiopia (2), Thailand (1), Senegal (1), Burkina Faso (1), Tanzania (1).