Viet Nam continues to deploy peacekeeping field forces to Abyei and South Sudan

A send-off ceremony for the detachment of Engineering Unit Rotation 3 and Level 2 Field Hospital Rotation 6 to United Nations peacekeeping missions in South Sudan and the Abyei region was held in Ha Noi on September 24.

Engineering Unit Rotation 3, comprising 184 military personnel, departed for the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) while 63 personnel from Level 2 Field Hospital Rotation 6 left for United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS).

Director of the Viet Nam Department for Peacekeeping Operations Pham Manh Thang said, personnel from both units have been fully equipped with medical expertise, English and in-depth contents on peacekeeping such as international trauma first aid, air medical transport, sexual violence prevention, and explosive ordnance identification, meeting the UN's criteria and requirements.

Addressing the event, Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan highly hailed Viet Nam's achievements in participating in UN peacekeeping activities over the past 10 years.

It is a spotlight in multilateral foreign affairs of the Party, State, the People's Army, and the People's Police, she noted, adding that it has demonstrated Viet Nam's responsibility to the international community, contributing to coping with traditional and non-traditional challenges in the region and the world.

The Party and State are proud of and hail the results achieved by Viet Nam's forces participating in UN peacekeeping operations, including Engineering Unit Rotation 3 and Level 2 Field Hospital Rotation 6, the Vice President said.

She expressed her belief that both units will continue inheriting the achievements of previous peacekeeping forces, and promote their bravery, intelligence, and capacity in carrying out the noble tasks assigned by the Party, State, army and people, and meeting the requirements of the UN.

Vo took the occasion to express sincere thanks to the UN and partner countries and international organizations, expecting that partners will continue to support Viet Nam in the process of preparing its forces and deploying peacekeeping missions.

May 27th marked a decade since Viet Nam first sent forces to participate in UN peacekeeping operation, realizing the Vietnamese Party and State's policy of international integration and external policy on defense.

Over the past decade, Viet Nam's participation in peacekeeping missions has elevated its status in the international arena.

As of May this year, Viet Nam sent over 800 officers and soldiers, including 7 officers of the Viet Nam Public Security Force, to engage in 4 peacekeeping missions in the Central African Republic, South Sudan, Abyei, and the UN headquarters./.