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01/09/2008
400 Troops Ready For Chad Switch Over
With the heightening violence in Chad, 400 soldiers bound for the mid-African country are taking to Wicklow to prepare for their overseas' posting.
The 98th Infantry Battalion are scheduled for a four month tour of Chad to replace the existant troops, were they can expect temperatures approaching 50C.
Last week, Defence Minister Willie O'Dea said intelligence reports from the area suggested rebel groups are gearing up for a major increase in intensity.
The two-week exercise, which will include live-fire training and command post programmes, started on Sunday in the Army's training area in the Glen of Imaal.
The group will be replacing the 97th battalion, who have had to deal with floods and monsoon-esque downpours during the country's wet season.
As the trouble in Chad continue, recent news has revealed the toll of the fighting being taken on the country's people.
On Sunday it emerged that some 95 people have been killed by mines and unexploded ordnances this year, of whom 17 were killed and 78 injured, the majority of them children.
In the most recent incident on 28 August, one child was killed and five injured when an device they were playing with exploded in the eastern Chadian village of Tine, on the border with Sudan's war-torn Darfur region. Two of the five wounded children had limbs amputated.
"This is one more occurrence, in a fatal wave of explosions affecting innocent civilians and especially children," said Jean-François Basse, Child Protection Specialist with the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) in the Chadian capital, N'Djamena.
(DW)
The 98th Infantry Battalion are scheduled for a four month tour of Chad to replace the existant troops, were they can expect temperatures approaching 50C.
Last week, Defence Minister Willie O'Dea said intelligence reports from the area suggested rebel groups are gearing up for a major increase in intensity.
The two-week exercise, which will include live-fire training and command post programmes, started on Sunday in the Army's training area in the Glen of Imaal.
The group will be replacing the 97th battalion, who have had to deal with floods and monsoon-esque downpours during the country's wet season.
As the trouble in Chad continue, recent news has revealed the toll of the fighting being taken on the country's people.
On Sunday it emerged that some 95 people have been killed by mines and unexploded ordnances this year, of whom 17 were killed and 78 injured, the majority of them children.
In the most recent incident on 28 August, one child was killed and five injured when an device they were playing with exploded in the eastern Chadian village of Tine, on the border with Sudan's war-torn Darfur region. Two of the five wounded children had limbs amputated.
"This is one more occurrence, in a fatal wave of explosions affecting innocent civilians and especially children," said Jean-François Basse, Child Protection Specialist with the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) in the Chadian capital, N'Djamena.
(DW)
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14 January 2009
More Troops For Chad
Around 400 soldiers bound for Chad went on parade today. The contingent, drawn mostly from the 2nd Eastern Brigade with barracks in Dublin, Dundalk and Gormanstown will serve for four months in Goz Beida in the eastern part of the central African country.
More Troops For Chad
Around 400 soldiers bound for Chad went on parade today. The contingent, drawn mostly from the 2nd Eastern Brigade with barracks in Dublin, Dundalk and Gormanstown will serve for four months in Goz Beida in the eastern part of the central African country.
02 May 2008
Ahern Warns Of Difficulties In Irish Operation In Chad
Taoiseach Bertie Ahern has voiced concerns over the European Union-United Nations sponsored mission involving Irish troops in Chad. Speaking to students at Harvard University in Boston last night, Mr Ahern said the Government belived the operation would be a difficult one for the Irish involved in the mission.
Ahern Warns Of Difficulties In Irish Operation In Chad
Taoiseach Bertie Ahern has voiced concerns over the European Union-United Nations sponsored mission involving Irish troops in Chad. Speaking to students at Harvard University in Boston last night, Mr Ahern said the Government belived the operation would be a difficult one for the Irish involved in the mission.
16 August 2010
Omagh Bomb Families Press For Inquiry
Twelve years after the North's worst terrorist atrocity, the families bereaved in the IRA's Omagh bombing have revealed they are to raise their calls for a public inquiry in talks with the new Westminster Government next month.
Omagh Bomb Families Press For Inquiry
Twelve years after the North's worst terrorist atrocity, the families bereaved in the IRA's Omagh bombing have revealed they are to raise their calls for a public inquiry in talks with the new Westminster Government next month.
17 June 2008
Defence Minister Says Chad Attack Was Mistake
The Irish defence Minister has said that an attack by Chadian rebels on Irish forces in the war-torn country could have been "a mistake". Speaking as he arrived in Chad's capital N'Djamena, Minister Willie O'Dea said he believed the attack on Saturday was a "knee-jerk" reaction by rebels, and the shooting was a mistake.
Defence Minister Says Chad Attack Was Mistake
The Irish defence Minister has said that an attack by Chadian rebels on Irish forces in the war-torn country could have been "a mistake". Speaking as he arrived in Chad's capital N'Djamena, Minister Willie O'Dea said he believed the attack on Saturday was a "knee-jerk" reaction by rebels, and the shooting was a mistake.
04 July 2014
'Five Shows Or None' - Garth Brooks Issues Ultimatum
Following the decision by Dublin City Council to grant a licence for three of five planned concerts by Garth Brooks at Croke Park, the American country singer has issued a statement saying that it is "five shows or none at all". The statement read: "I can't thank the people of Ireland enough for how welcome they have made me feel.
'Five Shows Or None' - Garth Brooks Issues Ultimatum
Following the decision by Dublin City Council to grant a licence for three of five planned concerts by Garth Brooks at Croke Park, the American country singer has issued a statement saying that it is "five shows or none at all". The statement read: "I can't thank the people of Ireland enough for how welcome they have made me feel.
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Ireland WeatherToday:A sunny but frosty start for many. However cloud increases by midday with a few showers reaching the north coast, these mostly light but spreading inland this afternoon. Chilly. Maximum temperature 8 °C.Tonight:A rather cloudy evening with scattered showers. Becoming drier through the night with some good clear spells developing and a patchy frost away from coasts. Minimum temperature 0 °C.
