Following the Party and State's policy on Vietnam’s participating in United Nations (UN) peacekeeping activities, over the past years, the Vietnam People's Army has participated in UN peacekeeping and achieved many positive results, supported by many classes of people in the country and the international community, and highly appreciated by the UN.
In recognition of the contributions of Vietnam's peacekeeping forces, during the departure ceremony of Vietnam's Engineering Unit Rotation 1 and Level-2 Field Hospital Rotation 4, on April 27, 2022, State President Nguyen Xuan Phuc, Chairman of the Defence - Security Council and Commander-in-chief of the People's Armed Forces, said that the spirit of dedication and responsibility of Vietnamese blue beret soldiers shines even more brightly the image of Vietnam and its people’s love for peace, and for the prosperity and development of the human community. Thereby, it can be affirmed that over the past eight years, the participation in UN peacekeeping has been a bright spot in multilateral foreign relations of the Party, State and Army.
It can be seen that over the past time, Vietnam's UN peacekeeping forces have not only fulfilled their peacekeeping mission but are also "messengers" of friendship and solidarity with friends of countries, attachment and help to local communities. Vietnamese blue beret soldiers - soldiers of "Uncle Ho's Army" have both successfully completed their international missions and know how to grow green vegetables to improve meals, help people improve living conditions, and at the same time know how to teach children, to sew and give masks to colleagues and people for COVID-19 prevention. These images make people of other countries better understand and love a friendly and peace-loving Vietnam.
Article 1: Vietnamese engineers perform an international mission for the first time
(CPV) – With a distance of more than 10,000 km through 6 countries and territories, all 184 officers and soldiers of the Engineering Unit Rotation 1 carried out the largest operation of the Vietnam People's Army to the Abyei (Africa) – marking the first time that the Vietnamese engineers have performed a noble international mission at the UN Peacekeeping Mission.
8 years of preparation for the elite engineers squad
Vietnam officially joined the UN peacekeeping force in June 2014. Since then, Vietnam has sent 76 individual officers and 436 soldiers in units participating in UN peacekeeping. In particular, for the first time, Vietnam has an engineering team participating in the UN peacekeeping force with 184 people, 3 times more than Level-2 Field Hospital. This is a unit-level formation that has the largest number of members of Vietnam ever joining the peacekeeping force.
   
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| Vietnam Engineering Unit participates in training to carry out the peacekeeping mission (Photo: My Hanh) |
According to Director of the Vietnam Department of Peacekeeping Operations Major General Hoang Kim Phung, since 2014, the Ministry of National Defense has established an Engineer Team and is preparing for deploying in an appropriate mission at the request of the UN. On July 14, 2017, the Politburo met and agreed to send the Vietnam’s Engineering Unit to participate.
On September 21, 2021, the UN notified and sent an invitation to Vietnam to send the Engineering Unit to join the UN Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) after considering 15 engineering teams of the countries applying for the implementation. Accordingly, personnel participating in the Vietnam's Engineering Unit Rotation 1 were selected from 11 units, including the Command of Engineers, Special Forces, Communications, Command 86, and the Hanoi Capital Command, Department of Military Training and Logistics, Military Region 1, Military Region 3, Central Military Hospital 108 and Vietnam Peacekeeping Department. All members have the qualifications and good health to meet the demanding positions and requirements of the UN.
"Among 15 countries that have engineer teams, the UN has chosen Vietnam. This proves our engineer's capacity with careful preparation in terms of political quality, physical strength and professional capacity. In the past 8 years from the day we deployed the first two military observer officers to the field hospitals and now the engineering team, we have come a long way from simple to complex tasks; from independent individual operations to unit operations at a small level, to a larger level. According to the cycle of 1 year, the Engineering Unit will change troops once. We will deploy for a long time, not only for the 1 year term of the Vietnam's Engineering Unit Rotation 1, but also the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th and longer Engineering Unit," said Major General Hoang Kim Phung.
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| Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Quang Tuyen, Politician of the Vietnam's Engineering Unit Rotation 1, instructs female engineers before leaving for duty in the Abyei, Africa (Photo: Kieu Giang) |
In order to carry out international missions in the Peacekeeping Mission, soldiers in the Engineering Unit Rotation 1 must undergo military training, pre-deployment, and engineer expertise; and participate in training courses to operate heavy engineering equipment within the framework of the UN Tripartite Partnership. They are also trained in English and share practical experience with international experts; are provided training course on international law, ensuring safety and security, combating sexual exploitation and abuse, technology transfer and practice on equipment.
Memorable march
On June 15, 2022, 9 helicopters brought Vietnam's Engineering Unit Rotation 1 from Kadougli (Sudan) to the airfield of UNISFA, ended 4 days and nights of operations of the formation of 156 Vietnamese soldiers participating in the peacekeeping mission. This was the largest operation, with the longest march of the Vietnam People's Army through 06 countries and territories with a distance of more than 10,000 km. Previously, on May 5, 28 members of the front line of the Vietnam's Engineering Unit Rotation 1 successfully deployed to the UNISFA, safe in personnel and equipment, ending a 3-day march from Vietnam to the UNISFA.
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| Major Nguyen Cong Duoc, Secretary of the Party Committee and Deputy Head of the Engineer Division 1 on the journey to Abyei (Photo: Vietnam's Engineering Unit Rotation 1) |
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Sharing about the memorable march in the military life, Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Quang Tuyen, Politician of Vietnam's Engineering Unit Rotation 1, who directly commanded the marching formation of 156 soldiers, said that during the operation, they had to move by both land and air and constantly changed according to the transport capacity of each type of vehicle. When traveling by air, they had to travel on 3 types of planes. From Noi Bai International Airport to Entebbe (Uganda), all soldiers and their luggage moved by commercial jet of Ethiopian Airlines, transited in New Delhi (India) and Addis Ababa (Ethiopian), then moved to Entebbe (Uganda). They stayed in Entebbe to make UN ID cards, received more logistical materials and did administrative procedures for the next two journeys. On the morning of June 15, they continued their travel by UN helicopters, divided into 9 trips to Abyei.
According to comrade Nguyen Quang Tuyen, despite continuously moving for 4 days in a row, during the two operations, all the officers and soldiers strictly observed discipline, maintained posture, military etiquette, and the image of the Vietnamese army, Uncle Ho's army. Wherever they went, they were welcomed by the people of other countries. "That gives us strength and motivation for us to start our mission in a country far away from the fatherland," said Mr. Tuyen.
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| The members of Vietnam's Engineering Unit Rotation 1 carried out the largest operation, with the longest distance through 06 countries and territories (Photo: Vietnam's Engineering Unit Rotation 1) |
Mr. Tuyen said that with the long operation, ensuring the command of the formation, the tight and safe management of the troops is an extremely important task. On the other hand, this is the first time that an Engineering Unit has gone abroad to perform a mission. Before the operation, the Command Board had developed a detailed operation plan, assigned responsibilities to each officer and soldier and set out situations and ways to handle anything that may occur. Thanks to this, the historic operation of Vietnam's Engineering Unit Rotation 1 arrived in absolute safety.
Upholding the tradition of "Blaze a trail to victory"
Vietnam's Engineering Unit Rotation 1 with 184 officers and soldiers participating in the UNISFA will contribute to providing humanitarian assistance activities, helping UNISFA carry out the mission of preserving and rebuilding peace, bringing peaceful life to the people of African countries.
Accordingly, the main tasks of the Engineering Unit include surveying, maintaining, repairing and upgrading main and preventive transport routes; checking and overcoming traffic problems, ensuring the route for UN convoys and relief transport; repairing and upgrading UN bases; supporting the move and redeployment of temporary bases of UN in the UNISFA; ensuring the transport of goods, rescuing the means of the UN and relief organizations when required; giving humanitarian support in the local community (construction of community houses, schools, public facilities).
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At the departure ceremony of Vietnam's Engineering Unit Rotation 1 and Level-2 Field Hospital Rotation 4 to implement their tasks of UN peacekeeping mission in Abyei and South Sudan on April 27, 2022, State President Nguyen Xuan Phuc expressed his belief that Vietnam’s first Engineering Unit participating in UN peacekeeping mission will promote bravery, intelligence and capacity to well perform humanitarian assistance tasks, build UNISFA infrastructure and people's living infrastructure to serve local people, meeting the requirements of the UN.
The State President assigned tasks to officers and soldiers before departure and wished the Vietnam's Engineering Unit Rotation 1 and Level-2 Field Hospital Rotation 4 to take care of their health, stay strong and determined to achieve their wishes and have a safe trip in order to shine the image of "Uncle Ho's army" in the hearts of the people and international friends.
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| State President Nguyen Xuan Phuc, General Phan Van Giang took a photo with officials and soldiers before leaving for duty in Abyei and South Sudan (Photo: Kieu Giang) |
Right after arriving in Abyei, Vietnam's Engineering Unit Rotation 1 immediately began to stabilize accommodation and perform tasks as requested by the UNISFA. Two days before the arrival in Abyei, UNISFA Commander had officially decided that the Vietnam's Engineering Unit Rotation 1 would be stationed Barracks Highway about 3km from the UNISFA Headquarters. Barracks Highway was the site of the former Ethiopian Infantry Battalion. The barracks were built nearly 10 years ago so most of the infrastructure has deteriorated, the houses were dilapidated, industrial pressed wood floor was damaged, the system of toilets and bathrooms, and water systems were badly damaged. Only 30% of the electricity system for lighting and air conditioning can work. Therefore, the first important task is to quickly repair and upgrade the main military area at Highway.
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Colonel Mac Duc Trong, Captain of Vietnam’s Engineering Unit Rotation 1, (in the middle) at UNISFA in Abyei, Africa
(Photo: Vietnam’s Engineering Unit Rotation 1) |
Despite being very tired by the long distance, the change in time zones and the harsh weather in Africa, the officers and soldiers from Vietnam's Engineering Unit Rotation 1 made great efforts to overcome difficulties, always upheld their spirit of solidarity, mutual assistance to each other to successfully complete assigned tasks. So far, the deployment of reinforcement and repair of the barracks has basically ensured a place to eat and stay for the soldiers. The entire Engineering Unit Rotation 1 moved to their position at the Highway barracks on June 25, three days earlier than UNIFA’s plan.
Imprint of Vietnamese Engineers
Talking about the feelings of the early days, Major Nguyen Van Thu, Logistics Staff Officer, Vietnam's Engineering Unit Rotation 1, said “Wideness is my first impressions when visiting the Highway barracks in April 2022 to prepare for the logistics and barracks for the Vietnam's Engineering Unit Rotation 1 to be permanently stationed at the UNISFA. The lack of materials along with the severe deterioration of the barracks are major obstacles that can make people frustrated or even lose their will to think of permanently stationing here in the complex specific conditions of the region”.
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| (Photo provided by Vietnam's Engineering Unit Rotation 1) |
However, Mr. Thu also said that just a few days after arriving in the area, with the industrious hands of the officers and soldiers in the Rotation, with the spirit of solidarity, synergy and high determination, the Highway barracks was no longer as wild as it was in the early days. The barracks have become as neat and tidy as a military barracks representing the symbol of peace. In addition, the imposing machinery and equipment was neatly arranged in accordance with the planning. This showed the serious working attitude of the Rotation.
Especially, when going deep into the barracks, the familiar image of a Vietnamese village appears with vegetable beds cultivated and planted by soldiers of Uncle Ho's army. From the wild land, the little sprouts grow up, bringing a feeling of peace. The green vegetable gardens and lush water spinach field will appear soon. These images not only adorn the neatness and planning of the barracks, but these will be an abundant source of green vegetables for the Rotation's meals, helping the Rotation members have good health to perform their duties.
Sharing with us, Major Nguyen Van Thu said that the most heart-warming is his feeling that he is in his own house with close brothers. The warm voices, friendly smiles of the brothers and sisters in the Rotation are motivation and power to dispel the blazing sun above 40 degreesCelsius in Abyei.
184 members have their own work. Engineers are busy with machines and design drawings for roads and projects that are about to be deployed; Nurses, doctors and pharmacists of the Level-1 Field Hospital are urgently deploying medical equipment and arranging pharmaceuticals to be ready for the task of ensuring health for the entire Rotation; Female cooks work hard to prepare simple Vietnamese dishes which are always full of nutrition and ensure the health of officers and soldiers; Soldiers guard day and night to ensure the security of the barracks, etc. All of them formed a united and brave Engineering Unit when they first performed an international mission.
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The first missions that Vietnam's Engineering Unit Rotation 1 deployed when they arrived in Abyei left their first impressions and were highly appreciated by UNISFA Commander
(Photo: Vietnam's Engineering Unit Rotation 1) |
The first missions that the Engineer Unit deployed when they arrived in Abyei left their first impressions and were highly appreciated by the Mission Commander and the authorities for their initiative, creativity, sense of responsibility and qualifications. Those initial results will be an important premise for the Engineer Unit to achieve more victories during their tenure at the UNISFA, worthy of the tradition of "Paving the way to victory" of the Vietnam Engineers. ./.
Article 2: Continuing peacekeeping mission of Vietnamese military medical staff
Article 3: Proud Vietnamese female soldiers in Africa
Article 4: Vietnam’s imprint in peacekeeping mission