UN honours Vietnamese engineering unit for peacekeeping service
VOV.VN - The UN Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) held a medal parade on July 24 at its Highway base to award the “For U.N. Peacekeeping Cause” medal to 180 members of Vietnam’s Engineering Unit Rotation 3, in recognition of their efforts to maintain peace and stability in the region.
In his speech, Brigadier General Ameer Muhammad Umrani, UNISFA’s Deputy Force Commander, said the medal was a testament to the team’s dedication over the past year.
He noted that the Vietnamese peacekeepers had not only performed their duties with distinction, but also contributed to humanitarian activities, including road construction, airport repairs, school building, and food distribution for local communities.
Abyei’s Minister of Peace and Reconciliation, Abionweng Majith, praised the professionalism and compassion of the unit, saying their presence had changed local perceptions of UNISFA.
Lieutenant Colonel Pham Van Hao, commander of Engineering Unit Rotation 3, described the medal as a symbol of silent dedication and a source of pride for every blue-beret soldier and the Vietnam People’s Army as a whole.
Deployed since September 2024, the 184-member team has worked under harsh conditions to upgrade key transport routes, maintain helicopter landing sites, repair schools, and provide medical and food aid.
More than 1,100 Vietnamese officers and personnel have so far become involved in peacekeeping operations at three UN missions in the Central African Republic, South Sudan, and Abyei, as well as at the UN Headquarters.
UN Under-Secretary General hails Vietnam's contributions to peacekeeping mission
UN Under-Secretary General Jean-Pierre Lacroix on June 13 commended Vietnam’s increasingly active and effective engagement in peacekeeping operations and reiterated his consistent support for the country's efforts to enhance its cooperation with the UN in this field.
