New Zealand military to send engineers to Sinai peacekeeping force

The number of New Zealand military personnel in the multinational peacekeeping force in the Sinai Peninsula will more than double for about six months next year, Defence Minister Gerry Brownlee said Monday.

The government had agreed to deploy an additional 35 New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) personnel to provide engineering support to build a security fence around the Multinational Force and Observers' South Camp in the Sinai, near Sharm El-Sheikh, Brownlee said.

"The short-term contribution will bolster the security of the mission, which observes and reports on the Treaty of Peace between Egypt and Israel," Brownlee said in a statement.

"The work will last around six months and personnel will deploy in early 2017."

The deployment was in response to a request from the Multinational Force and Observers to assist with infrastructure improvements at South Camp, where the mission's headquarters was based.

"The security fence will further enhance physical protection at the camp, including for NZDF personnel," said Brownlee.

Last month, the government agreed to extend the mandate for up to 28 NZDF personnel deployed to the Multinational Force and Observers until July 2018.

The Multinational Force and Observers mission observes, reports, and verifies the Treaty of Peace between Egypt and Israel.

The mission includes contributions from Australia, the United Kingdom, Canada, Colombia, the Czech Republic, Fiji, France, Italy, Norway, Uruguay, the United States and New Zealand.

New Zealand has been a member of the Multinational Force and Observers since its establishment in 1982.

New Zealand's contribution to the mission consists of a force training team, a transport section and headquarters staff. Endit