Polish troops were stationed in Chad for a year and a half. It was a difficult mission during which they provided the local community with humanitarian assistance, helping build schools and hospitals as well as clean wells. It was also a more challanging mission due to extreme climate conditions. Apart from withdrawing 300 troops from Chad, Poland is also withdrawn 470-strong contingent from the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon. Deputy Defense Minister Stanislaw Komorowski says the basis for the decision to terminate their presence was the government's strategy of granting priority to NATO and the EU missions.