Nepalese Police joins U.N. peacekeeping mission in Sudan

New York, Oct 21 (PTI) Over 100 Nepalese police
officers have arrived in the conflict ridden Darfur region of
Sudan to strengthen the United Nations-African Union
peacekeeping mission (UNAMID).

The officers are expected to stay in the region for
about an year. About 40 more officers will also join the
mission shortly to form a 147-strong Nepalese Formed Police
Unit (F.P.U.).

F.P.U.s are specialized, self-sufficient and fully
mobile rapid reaction police units that are entirely composed
of police officers from a single contingent, with expertise in
crowd management and other police tactical operations.

The Nepalese officers - specialised in crowd
management and other police tactical operations - may be
required to engage in high-risk assignments and the protection
of people in imminent danger, preventing attacks and curbing
threats against civilians, the mission said.

The F.P.U.s will monitor and provide security and
protection to Darfur internally displaced person (I.D.P.)
camps, threatened villages, and migration routes.

Besides providing security, the F.P.U.s will also
assist national authorities and U.N. agencies in delivering
humanitarian assistance in times of need and conducting escort
duties in order to build the confidence of the local
population in the rule of law.

The Nepalese F.P.U. is the third country-based unit to
be deployed – following Bangladesh and Indonesia. Nineteen
such units were mandated by the Security Council resolution
creating UNAMID.

Some 300,000 people are estimated to have been killed
across the impoverished, arid region in Darfur since fighting
erupted between rebels, Government forces and allied
militiamen in 2003. Another 2.7 million people have been
displaced from their homes.