New York  - The UN Security Council on Tuesday praised the European Union for a well-done mission in the region between Chad and the Central African Republic, where an estimated 500,000 refugees need protection and aid.

The EU mission ended its one-year mission on Sunday and was replaced by UN peacekeeping operation composed of 5,200 military troops, drawn mostly from the departing EU military components.

Following a discussion on the situation in the region, the council said it "commends" the EU for the successful mission in eastern Chad and northeastern CAR and making possible the delivery of humanitarian assistance, security and stability, for the refugees.

"Security Council members stress the importance of a further improvement of regional relations, in particular between Sudan and Chad," the council said in a statement. It gave support to diplomatic efforts to resolve conflicts in the region launched in Dakar by co-chairmen Libya and Congo.

The military strength of the UN mission in Chad-CAR, known as MINURCAT, is provided by Albania, Austria, Croatia, Finland, France, Ireland, Poland and Russia. Additional troops will be contributed by Ghana, Malawi, Namibia, Nepal, Norway, Togo and Uruguay. (dpa)