Dutch Soldiers Sent to Mali with Substandard Uniforms

Jean Debie, Chairman of the Union for Civil and Military Defense Personnel, confirmed that the uniforms of the Dutch contingent which is being sent to Mali are substandard. He said that cheap clothing made in China has been chosen over more expensive material from the Dutch textile maker Ten Cate. Debie concluded that the Dutch government usually chooses European tenders for the cheapest, but not the best. He added that one of the problems is fire safety if a bomb explodes near a soldier. The Ministry of Defense disagrees. www.volkskrant.nl/vk/nl/2686/Binnenland/article/detail/3571863/2014/01/04/Uniform-Mali-gangers-is-ondermaats.dhtml