Helicopter cuts leave UN struggling

Budget cuts mean UN peacekeepers in the Democratic Republic of the Congo do not have enough helicopters to operate effectively in the country's unstable east.

Under pressure from Congolese president Joseph Kabila, the UN Security Council agreed in May to allow a phased withdrawal of the UN's biggest peacekeeping force (Monusco) and a shifting of its focus to reconstruction, training and other aid.

The move triggered a $73 million cut to Monusco's roughly $1.3 billion budget, of which $61m affects the type and number of aircraft available to the force, Paul Buades, head of Monusco's logistic support base in Entebbe, said yesterday.

Mr Buades said the cuts will make it harder to carry out operations. "We can't support forces in more robust operations," he said. "The jungle is the jungle," he added, referring to country's sprawling eastern provinces, roughly the size of France.

Mr Buades said eight attack helicopters were withdrawn when a group of Indian peacekeepers were pulled out of the country. More Indian troops and helicopters are expected to go in coming months. Before the cuts, the mission had about 68 helicopters and planes at its disposal, Mr Buades said.