The boat was painted with the word Peace for Rumamier. Photo: Vietnam's Engineering Unit

On June 11, Vietnam's Engineering Unit said that it just received two damaged iron boats from the local people that the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) assigned to repair.

Previously, when the UNISFA organized patrols and met with people in the villages to understand the local security situation, village chief Rumamier made this suggestion.

People said that because the boat was damaged, during the last rainy season, when a woman gave birth in a village across the river, she could not be transferred to a medical facility on this side of the river, resulting in the death of the baby.

In this African region, iron boats are a means for people to move for a living, a savior for transporting food, taking sick people to medical facilities, and taking students to school in the rainy season.

Acting Head of Mission, Major General Benjamin O. Saywerr directed Vietnam's Engineering Unit to research a plan to help repair boats for the people of Rumamier.

He considered this an important humanitarian-civil-military operation of the Mission, affirming UNISFA's commitment to the peace, security, and safety of the Abyei people.

Vietnam's Engineers deal with the rusty parts. Photo: Vietnam's Engineering Unit

The Vietnam Engineering Unit brought the damaged boats to the barracks for repair.

These iron boats were built a long time ago, exposed to the sun and rain, so they were rotten, rusted, badly damaged, and punctured in many places, with holes 20, and 30 centimeters wide.

The soldiers of the Engineering Unit had to deal with the rusted and decayed parts, then cut thin steel sheets, welded and sealed the holes.

After checking that there was no more water leak, they applied anti-rust paint and painted the word Peace for Rumamier, with the hope that the war would stop in this area and people would live in peace.

People rejoice next to the boat that has just been repaired. Photo: Vietnam's Engineering Unit

After the two boats were repaired by the Vietnamese Engineers, they were handed over to the villagers.

Speaking at the handover ceremony, UNISFA Deputy Force Commander, Brig. Gene. Mohammod Syed Abu Bakir congratulated Rumamier villagers on having two sturdy and beautiful new boats, much needed in the approaching rainy season.

He also praised the responsibility as well as the qualifications and professional skills of the staff and employees of Vietnam's Engineering Unit.

Brigadier General Abu Syed Mohammod Bakir and leaders of the Mission at the handover ceremony. Photo: Vietnam's Engineering Unit

At the handover ceremony, the local representative thanked the Mission and Vietnam's Engineering Team for helping the people with a meaningful work that no UN peacekeeping unit in Abyei had ever done before.

Representatives of local people also suggested that the Vietnamese Engineers continue to repair three more boats in Mijak Village, about 5km from Rumamier.

With this proposal, UNISFA Deputy Force Commander, Brig. Gene. Mohammod Syed Abu Bakir continued to assign the Vietnam Engineers Team to support local people.

He requested the relevant units of the Mission to closely coordinate with the Vietnamese unit to receive and hand over.

Vietnamese Soldiers Ready for Peacekeeping Mission in Africa A Vietnamese military engineering unit will join the UN peacekeeping force in Abyei and South Sudan this month.

Vietnam Opens First Engineering Unit in Abyei Vietnam’s Engineering Unit Rotation 1 has ensured the set schedule of all assigned tasks, and has been applauded for their capability, especially their creativity and ...

Vietnamese Students Win Prizes at Int’l Science, Engineering Fair A project of Vietnamese students won a third prize at the 2023 Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (Regeneron ISEF 2023) Grand Awards, making Vietnam ...