International trainees join logistics course in Vietnam

The international trainees came from 10 countries which are partners of the Military Training and Cooperation Programme (MTCP), while 7 lecturers came from Vietnam, Canada and Sierra Leone.

According to Major General Hoang Kim Phung, Head of the Vietnam Department of Peacekeeping Operations, the course helps equip trainees with specialized knowledge on ensuring logistics for UN missions, including inspection and assessment of equipment; field support; adequate healthcare, transport and maintenance; protection of civilians and children; humanitarian support; and prevention of violence and sexual abuse.

Additionally, the 12-day course will also contribute to helping Vietnam gain experience and increase ability in organizing UN peacekeeping training, looking to develop peacekeeping training foundations which are capable of international courses recognized by and reaching the UN standards.

Addressing the opening ceremony, Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Chi Vinh, Deputy Minister of National Defence, stressed that throughout over 70 years, UN peacekeeping activities had shown their important role in restoring and maintaining peace and national re-construction after conflicts all over the world. 

Expressing his thanks to the Canadian Government and Defence Ministry for making conditions for the course, he urged the Vietnam Department of Peacekeeping Operations to increase multilateral activities and coordination with countries all over the world for organizing peacekeeping courses, especially with Asia- Pacific countries and those who had set up cooperation with Vietnam over the past years.

Since 2014, Vietnam has sent 30 officers to the UN peacekeeping missions. In October 2018, Vietnam’s first level-2 field hospital was successfully carried out in South Sudan, while the second one and the first engineering team are being trained to be ready to join UN missions from 2020./.