United Nations, New York (ANTARA News) – The United Nations said Tuesday that it had evacuated most of its staff in conflict-torn Chad because of security reasons.
“We can no longer guarantee the safety and security of UN staff in Chad and we have evacuated, with the help of the French government, most of the personnel into neighboring countries, in Cameroon and Gabon,” said UN chief Ban Ki-moon, who had just returned from his trip to Africa.
But a small number of personnel from the UN peacekeeping mission there and some other UN agencies are still remaining, he noted.
“We will take necessary measures in close cooperation with the French Government when it is necessary,” he added.
Voicing alarm at the “deteriorating security situation” in the capital of N`Djamena, Ban said the United Nations will do its utmost to help resolve the crisis.
“I welcome the initiative of the African Union to have designated leaders of Libya and the Republic of Congo to mediate this issue,” he said.
The secretary-general also urged the Security Council to act swiftly to help bring this terrible crisis to an end, Xinhua reported.(*)