as peace support operations, humanitarian assistance and support to civil authority. For example, during the floodsinduced disasters of 2000/2001 in Mozambique the SADC Defence Forces played a critical role in saving lives and in the restoration of communication links before civilian authorities could resume reconstruction activities. 4.1.3 In order to ensure effective conduct of peace support operations the ISDSC established a Regional Peacekeeping Training Centre in Zimbabwe. In enhancing effectiveness in the conduct of peace support operations SADC Defence Forces have held a series of joint peace support exercises such as Blue Hungwe, Blue Crane, Tanzanite and Airborne Africa 2002. 4.1.4 At the international level, many SADC Member States have contributed personnel to UN peace missions in Somalia, Sierra Leone, Ethiopia/Eritrea, Burundi, in Africa; and as far afield as East Timor and Cambodia in Asia, Bosnia and Croatia in Europe. 4.2 Challenges 4.2.1 Notwithstanding the achievements stated above, the region still faces a number of challenges, which impact on the defence sector. These include: i) Armed conflicts within Member States; ii) Terrorism; iii) HIV and AIDS; iv) Developing policies and capacities to ensure that the region maintains trained units ready to be deployed in peace support operations in the region or under the 24