BY CJ MCGINLEY
Ten soldiers from Rockhill barracks set off on Wednesday for one of the most volatile and corrupt regions of the world.
Over 400 Irish troops will be deployed by May for the UN mandated EU military operation in the Republic of Chad where they will spend the next four months.
The mission is one of the ambitious and challenging undertaken by the defence forces. Chad is one of the world's most acute humanitarian crises.
Speaking to the Donegal News before their departure four local soldiers spoke of how they were looking forward to the challenge ahead. However, they are also concerned about the growing conflict in the region and the risks attached to the dangerous mission. Ireland will play a significant and substantive role in this mission as the second largest contributor.
Corporal Gavin Crawford from Manorcunningham has been in the Army for ten years and has has previously served overseas in Lebanon and Liberia.
He said: "I think the heat is going to be a very challenging because it is up over 50 degrees but we will have to just get used to it," he said.
"Our mission is to get in there and set up a camp and help the engineers and logistics crews as well as gathering information," he added.
The role of the Irish troops in Chad will be threefold: to help establish a safe and secure environment for refugees, to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid to the refugees and to protect UN and humanitarian personnel. The Donegal soldiers will be based in the south eastern area of Goz Beida.
This week's group comprised of up to 190 soldiers including an engineer party of 176 logisticians and engineers (including 99 personnel from the battalion). They are tasked with setting up a base camp and also moving the extensive transport and equipment to the camp site (from Douala, Cameroon), and build a camp from which the troops will operate in Goz Beida in south eastern Chad. During the 12-month period of the Government agreed participation, a total of 1,200 Irish soldiers will serve on this mission. Corporal Damian Watters from Letterkenny is a veteran overseas having served in Lebanon, Kosovo, Liberia and East Timor.
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"It is just as hard as going away the first time. I'm leaving a wife behind so it is never easy but you have to get on with the job. The heat is going to be a factor but we've been training hard for the last few months so now we can't wait to get out there and get on with the mission," he said.
Private David Leech is one of the younger members of the team. He has been in the army for the past four years but has already been to Liberia twice.
"I don't mind going away. It is a job but you also get to see a lot of the world," he said.
Corporal Diego Rainey from Letterkenny has also been in the army for the past ten years. He too has served in Kosovo, Liberia and Lebanon.
"The mission has been delayed but we can't wait now, although we are a little apprehensive about what faces us, but we'll deal with it. We will be providing vital security for aid workers and refugees. It is going to be a whole new experience as it is the first time for the army to be in Chad," he said.
The ten left Rockhill at around 2.15 on Wednesday and travelled to McKee Barracks before getting a 1.40am flight from Dublin to Chad.
"The intention in Chad is that our soldiers will patrol in strength, as we did in Liberia. We will not initiate hostile action, but will always be prepared to react, should the situation demand. It is a mission that will test our organisation, planning, logistical capability and most of all our professional soldiers," said Lieutenant General Pat Nash, who is leading the mission.
"The main group of soldiers will deploy in May and immediately commence operations. Like all Defence Forces missions abroad they will also engage in limited humanitarian work on selected projects, in addition to their military tasks. This will bring soldiers into direct contact with the people that this mission is mandated to protect and will enhance mutual respect, cultural awareness and understanding between the two groups. Such a relationship is key to the success of any mission, especially one so strongly underscored by humanitarian objectives," he added.
Recently, the Darfur crisis in Sudan has spilt over the border and destabilised the nation. While many political parties are active, power lies firmly in the hands of President Déby and his political party, the Patriotic Salvation Movement. Chad remains plagued by political violence and recurrent attempted coups d'état, and is one of the poorest and most corrupt countries in the world; most Chadians live in poverty as subsistence herders and farmers.
In 1979 the rebels conquered the capital and put an end to the south's hegemony. However, the rebel commanders fought amongst themselves until Hissène Habré defeated his rivals. He was overthrown in 1990 by his general Idriss Déby. Recently, the Darfur crisis in Sudan has spilt over the border and destabilised the nation.
While many political parties are active, power lies firmly in the hands of President Déby and his political party, the Patriotic Salvation Movement. Chad remains plagued by political violence and recurrent attempted coups d'état, and is one of the poorest and most corrupt countries in the world; most Chadians live in poverty as subsistence herders and farmers. Since 2003 crude oil has become the country's primary source of export earnings, superseding the traditional cotton industry.
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