Darfur

Robert Neill
22. To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent progress has been made in establishing a UN peacekeeping force for Darfur.

David Miliband
The AU-UN mission in Darfur (UNAMID) assumed authority on 31 December. We are working with the UN, key allies and troop contributing countries to ensure UNAMID is an effective force. UNAMID consists of over 9,000 personnel, out of an eventual strength of 26,000 when fully deployed. It will grow throughout 2008. We have urged the Sudanese Government to co-operate fully on all aspects of force composition and deployment.