Muhyadin Ahmed Roble, AfricaNews reporter in Nairobi, Kenya
The UN-AU peacekeepers in Darfur received five helicopters from Ethiopia government after commanders in mission frequently appealed to Western donors to give tactical helicopters for the combined U.N./African Union peacekeeping force since it arrived in the western region of Darfur in January 2008.
Sudan's neighbour Ethiopia which pledged to contribute forces and military equipments for the mission in Darfur had completed her pledges this week.
Reuters News Agency reported that the Forces spokesman Noureddine Mezni said: "This will make a huge difference. Only one country has been able to help us. An African country has supported us".
UNAMID peacekeeping mission will need at least 18 helicopters, according to the spokesman who added "Up to now we have had zero tactical helicopters. Imagine managing without this mobility in such a huge area."
The lack of airliners has limited U.N./African Union peacekeeping force's ability to monitor Darfur.
The peacekeepers use a fleet of civilian helicopters, many of them contracted, for ferrying personnel, Reuters reported.
More than 20 UNAMID peacekeepers have been killed in Darfur since the mission moved there in January 2008.
The U.N. says the ongoing conflicts in Darfur has killed some 300,000 people and displaced more than 2.5 million other. Sudan said only 10,000 people dead.
The conflict in Darfur has been going on since 2003 when black African rebels began to take arms against the Sudan government.
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