Cambodian troops scheduled to depart last night for a UN peacekeeping mission in South Sudan will be arriving as relations between the country and its northern neighbour descend further into turmoil.

Fierce fighting has raged along the fledgling country’s border with Sudan since last week.

Talks between Sudan and South Sudan over oil payments and other disputes collapsed on Wednesday after fresh fighting broke out in the oil-producing border area of Heglig.

The149 Cambodian personnel from Military Police Unit 702 and Hospital Unit 801 will be the first Cambodian “blue hats” to join the United Nations Mission in South Sudan.

Recent violence in the region has raised fears of a return to all-out war, but Suong Khunny, deputy director general of the National Center for Peacekeeping Force, Mine and Explosive Remnants of War Clearance, said  the skirmishes would not distract from Cambodia’s humanitarian commitment and that they were not concerned.

“We don’t hesitate to send our troops there.”

To contact the reporters on this story: Anna Brown and Kim Yuthana at [email protected]