To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what support his Department has given to the United Nations Department of Peacekeeping Operations for the provision of helicopter units required by the UNAMID mission to Darfur; (186304)

We have lobbied a number of countries to provide helicopters for the UN-African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID). We helped to convene two meetings in New York in January between the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO) and over 20 countries to discuss helicopter provision for UNAMID. We understand Ethiopia has now offered to contribute a number of helicopters and the DPKO is following up with other potential contributing countries.

We have discussed the feasibility of commercial helicopter support with DPKO, but we have not estimated the cost of full commercial provision of the UNAMID helicopter shortfall. We remain in close contact with the DPKO and partners to discuss how we can continue to support efforts to find helicopters, as well as other support to UNAMID.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the outcome was of the recent meeting of military advisers in New York convened by the UK on helicopters for UNAMID; and if he will make a statement. (186347)

We helped to convene two meetings in New York in January between the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO) and over 20 countries to discuss helicopter provision for the UN-African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID). We understand Ethiopia has now offered to contribute a number of helicopters for UNAMID. Significant shortfalls remain and the DPKO is now following up with other potential contributing countries. We remain in close contact with the DPKO and partners to discuss how we can continue to support efforts to find helicopters, as well as other support to UNAMID.