Vietnam peacekeeping force sets out on first mission in South Sudan

ABO/VNA - The first group of Vietnam peacekeeping force with 30 members set off for South Sudan on October 1 for the nation’s first mission as an independent unit, which is to run a level-2 field hospital in the East Africa country.

Vietnamese medical doctors of the field hospital to be deployed in South Sudan offer incense in tribute to late President Ho Chi Minh at the Nha Rong Port in HCM City before participating in the UN’s peacekeeping force. (Photo: VNA)

On November 25, 2014, the Defence Ministry issued a decision to establish the level-2 field hospital with a 70-strong staff, a step to realise the Party and State’s policy on joining the United Nations’ peacekeeping activities in the field of humanitarian activities. Since then, the hospital’s staff have engaged in intensive training in accordance with the UN’s standards.

Lieutenant Colonel Bui Duc Thanh, director of the level-2 field hospital, affirmed that all staff members of the hospital have met the UN’s requirements on both professional ethics and skills, and are ready for their mission.

Thanh said besides fulfilling the tasks set by the UN peacekeeping mission in South Sudan, the hospital’s staffers also aim to serve as messengers of peace from Vietnam and promote the country’s image.

Following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on Vietnam’s deployment of a field hospital to South Sudan in New York on September 26, UN Under-Secretary-General for Field Support Atul Khare expressed his belief that Vietnam will deploy a high-quality hospital that can effectively contribute to the UN’s peacekeeping activities, and his hope for more contributions from Vietnam to this important mission.

(Source: VNA)