Preparations ongoing for send off ceremony of UN peacekeeping missions

Officers from the Engineering Unit Rotation 3 prepare to depart on the United Nations (UN) peacekeeping missions in South Sudan. — VNA/VNS Photo Trọng Đức

HÀ NỘI — The Việt Nam Department of Peacekeeping Operations has coordinated with other relevant units of the Ministry of National Defence in preparation for the send-off ceremony for Level-2 Field Hospital Rotation 6 and Engineering Unit Rotation 3 to UN peacekeeping missions, said its Director Major General Phạm Mạnh Thắng on Monday.

Engineering Unit Rotation 3 with 180 personnel is scheduled to leave Hà Nội for the UN Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) on a UN charter flight on September 24. Their goods and equipment will be transported in the fourth quarter of this year, and are expected to arrive in the first quarter of 2025.

Also on September 24, 63 personnel of the Level-2 Field Hospital Rotation 6 will depart for the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) on an Australian-funded flight. Their goods and equipment will be transported by both air and sea, with shipping to arrive in about 90 days, starting from the fourth quarter of 2024.

The training for the two units was completed on schedule and met the regulations of the UN, Thắng said, adding that the staff of Engineering Unit Rotation 3 will receive more training from now until their departure.

Inspecting the supervision work in Hà Nội on Monday, Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Việt Nam People's Army Senior Lieutenant General Phùng Sĩ Tấn lauded the close, serious coordination among relevant agencies and units.

Tấn, who is also Deputy Head of the Ministry’s Steering Committee for participation in UN peacekeeping operations, asked the department to continue its coordination in preparation for the ceremony.

The first 165 personnel of Engineering Unit Rotation 2 are scheduled to return home on September 28, and 15 others one month later. Four of the units will remain in UNISFA to perform duties at Engineering Unit Rotation 2.

The first 51 personnel of Level-2 Field Hospital Rotation 5 will fly home on September 28, and the remaining 12 members on October 10.