Apart from sending troops and weapons, Canada can contribute further in many ways for storing peace and stability in Mali, the UN Chief of Public Affairs Kieran Dwyer said Monday.

"There are many different ways that Canada can contribute and large numbers of soldiers on the ground aren't the only effective measure of a contribution," said Kieran Dwyer in an interview with the Postmedia News.

The UN Security Council is likely to replace French soldiers struggling against the fight with the Islamic rebels in Mali since January.

According to the UN official, the United Nations is seeking feedbacks from its state members regarding the ways in which the members can contribute in bringing peace and stability to Mali.

Saying Canada has a history of peacekeeping; the UN official expressed its hope to get stronger and advanced help from the Canadian federal government in tackling the Islamic militants in the country.

"But keeping in mind there is a very serious humanitarian crisis there (in Mali) as well, it's not only blue-helmeted peacekeepers (that are needed)," said Dwyer "There are a lot of roles for humanitarian work for civilians as well as police and military."

At the request of French government, the federal government in January extended a heavy military transport plane C-17 and approximately 40 air force personnel for French mission in Mali.

After extending its C-17 support several times, Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper this month publicly declared that the C-17 will remain in Mali as long as it is needs to be.

Canada has reportedly reiterated that it will extend its humanitarian aid to the African country.

After offering an aid of around $ 70 million, Harper's government last January made an additional humanitarian aid of $13 million to Mali.  

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