EUFOR accused of security lapses in Chad

N'DJAMENA, Chad, May 16 (UPI) -- The European Union Force has failed to adequately protect the aid groups attempting to disperse supplies in Chad, aid officials allege.

Nicholai Panke, who is the deputy head in Chad for the International Committee for the Red Cross, alleged that while EUFOR forces have been deployed in Chad since February, attacks on aid workers have increased, the U.N. Integrated Regional Information Networks said Friday.

"There is in fact a dilemma that many aid organizations are facing here as attacks become more frequent," Panke said.

Alsy Burger, who serves as a program director for Cooperative for Assistance and Relief Everywhere, said the apparent failure of the EUFOR forces was due to improper planning.

"EUFOR has all these heavy guns and armored personnel carriers, expecting they would have major offensives but for EUFOR to protect humanitarian workers and vulnerable populations from the real threat of banditry it needs light weapons and more men on the ground," Burger told IRIN.

Chad is mired in a lengthy conflict between rebel and government forces, creating a potentially dangerous dispersal situation for all aid groups.