Engineering Unit Rotation 2 deployed to Abyei for UN peacekeeping mission

The see-off ceremony for Engineering Unit Rotation No 2 of Vietnam for the UN peacekeeping mission in the UN Interim Security Force for Abyei at Noi Bai International Airport on August 8, 2023. (Photo: VNA)

Hanoi (VNA) -  A see-off ceremony for Engineering UnitRotation No 2 of Vietnam for the UN peacekeeping mission in theUN Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) was held by the Ministry of Defence on August 8.

Chairing the ceremony, Sen.Lt. Gen. Phung Si Tan, Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the VietnamPeople’s Army and deputy head of the defence ministry’s SteeringCommittee on participation in UN peacekeeping operations, ordered all membersof the unit to be united and overcome challenges to well perform assignedtasks.

Officers need to uphold and promote the image of the VietnamPeople's Army among international friends, thus contributing to effectivelyimplementing the Party and State's foreign policy, and improving the position ofVietnam and its army in the international arena, Tan said.

They must thoroughly understand and strictly adhere tothe regulations of the UN and the UNISFA, and laws of the host country, Tan said, adding they should also abide by bide lawsof Vietnam and its military’s disciplines to ensure safety in performingduties.

According to Colonel PhamManh Thang, Director of the Vietnam Department of Peacekeeping Operations (VDPO), the members of the unit have undergonespecialised training in professional and operational skills, military tactics,foreign languages, and pre-deployment training following the UN’s guidelines;and have been fully equipped with knowledge about UN peacekeeping, internationalhumanitarian laws, conflict, foreign relations, survival skills, among others.

All of the unit members are fully capable to fulfill their assigned duties and responsibilities,he affirmed.

Colonel Pham Manh Thang, Director of the Vietnam Department of Peacekeeping Operations (VDPO) shakes hands with a member of the unit at the see-off ceremony (Photo: VNA)

The unit left together with about300 tonnes of supplies, including equipment, machinery, and food, to serve theperformance of duties and daily needs, for one year of working. Most of the supplies will be transported by seawhile the remaining 17 tonnes, mainly food and medicine, by air on a commercialaircraft rented by the UN.

Vietnam's Engineering Unit Rotation 2, made up of 203 officers,including 19 females, was established in November 2022 under a decision of theMinistry of Defence.

In 2022, Engineering Unit Rotation 1 was deployed to the UN mission in Abyei, thefirst time Vietnam had sent an engineering team to a UN peacekeeping mission. It also had the biggest number ofstaff members among the Vietnamese units sent to UN peacekeeping missions. Allof its supplies, about 2,000 tonnes, were transported by sea./.

VNA