Fijian peacekeepers in Sinai will be returning home soon because of rising tension and escalating violence from so-called Islamic State militants.

Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF) director peacekeeping, Commander Humphrey Tawake, confirmed the pullout yesterday.

He said as of yesterday over 50 per cent of the Fijian troops had been relocated from the North Camp to the South Camp in Sham Al Sheik.

He said this was the part of the Multinational Force and Observers (MFO) reconfiguration under the current deteriorating situation in the North of Sinai.

He said in North Sinai, Fiji had closed two outside checkpoints as the violence grew.

As of yesterday 165 Fijian soldiers from North Sinai were in South Sinai.

The rest of the soldiers would be redeployed for safety reasons.

A total of 338 Fijian soldiers are in North Sinai. He said as soon as they were all in South Sinai, arrangements would be made for their return home.

Commander Tawake said when they arrived home they would be deployed to other units as most of them had financial commitments to settle. He assured families and the nation that all troops were safe and well from the last report received yesterday.

The RFMF Chief of Staff Colonel Litea Seruiratu also confirmed the soldiers’ return home.

She said “there are contingency plans put in place for the returning soldiers.”

Colonel Seruiratu assured the families that they should not be alarmed as the soldiers were safe.

The move, she said, was taken because of the safety of the soldiers.

She said the RFMF Commander, Rear Admiral Viliame Naupoto, was aware of the situation and had authorised Commander Tawake to release the news of the pullout.

Fijian peacekeepers were originally deployed to the Sinai under a peace accord between Israel and Egypt. But the Sinai has become an increasingly deadly battleground with the Islamic State militants attacking Egyptian forces and positions.

Fijian troops have been caught in the crossfire.

Edited by Nemani Delaibatiki

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