Vietnam pledges to continue maintaining staff of the Engineering Unit and Level-2 Field Hospital as well as those in peacekeeping missions. Photo: VNA

Vietnam aims to raise the rate of female officers in the country's peacekeeping force to 20% by 2025, Deputy Minister of National Defense Sen. Lieut. Gen Hoang Xuan Chien told a conference in Hanoi on October 19, as reported by VietnamPlus.

Chien said Vietnam pledges to continue maintaining staff of the Engineering Unit and Level-2 Field Hospital as well as those in peacekeeping missions. He wished to continue receiving support from the UN and international community to expand the country's presence and capability as requested.

The officer noted that Vietnam is among the leading countries regarding the rate of women in peacekeeping forces, with 16%, compared to the general rate of around 10%.

Col. Pham Manh Thang, Director of the Vietnam Department of Peacekeeping Operations, reported that both the Engineering Unit Rotation No. 1 and the Level-2 Field Hospital No. 4 of Vietnam had excellently performed their tasks during their terms.

He said the Engineering Unit Rotation No. 1 had fulfilled the tasks assigned by the UN Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA). The team built, upgraded, and repaired major transportation routes and patrol roads totaling 303 km in length, ensured the smooth flow of traffic on all routes, and undertook repairs and maintenance for camp facilities, bridges, and infrastructure in the UNISFA operational area.

It was chosen by the UNISFA Force Commander as the pioneering unit in the smart camp project, which involves restructuring the mission's infrastructure.

A view of the review conference. Photo: VNA

Meanwhile, Level-2 Field Hospital No. 4 provided treatment for 1,468 patients and came up with plans to fight COVID-19, malaria, monkeypox, and Ebola.

The two units actively engaged in mobilization activities such as providing free checkups and medicines for local people and helping the host locality dredge canals and build drainages. They also planted trees in schools, hospitals, villages and military bases to create a clean and beautiful environment, and donated books, notebooks, writing materials and clothing to local students.

Concluding its tenure, the Engineer Unit Rotation No. 1 received commendation letters from the UNISFA Force Commander, the Director of the UN Police Division, the Chief of the UN Mission Support, the Ministry of Education and the Department of Education of Abyei in recognition of their significant contributions and dedication to assigned work.

The hospital and five staff members received certificates of merit from the UNISFA Force Commander for performing their assigned tasks extremely well.

On the occasion, collectives and individuals of both units received certificates of merit from the Minister of National Defense and the Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People’s Army for their outstanding achievements at UN missions.

UN military observer training course underway in Hanoi

A UN Military Observers (UNMO) course is taking place in Hanoi from October 6-27.

A ceremony for the course was held on October 9 by the Vietnam Department of Peacekeeping Operations (VDPO), the US Global Peace Operations Initiative (GPOI), and the US Office of Defense Cooperation, according to VOV.

The course aims to equip military officers of the People's Army of Vietnam with specialized knowledge and skills in carrying out the duties of military observers deployed to UN peacekeeping missions. Additionally, the program provides an opportunity to enhance cooperation between Vietnam, the US, and international partners in the field of peacekeeping.

The training includes theoretical and practical components covering the legal framework for UN peacekeeping activities, the roles and responsibilities of military observers in a peacekeeping mission, civilian-military coordination, human rights, and communications management, among many other issues.

Colonel Nguyen Ba Hung, deputy head of the VDPO, expressed his gratitude to the US Office of Defense Cooperation, GPOI instructors and coordinators, and international and Vietnamese participants for their valuable contributions to this course.

Harley Alves, head of the GPOI team of international instructors, highlighted the significance of the course and stated that it is one of the most necessary and important courses for countries contributing to peacekeeping activities. It provides essential knowledge for real-world mission assignments at UN missions.

Alves also praised Vietnam for successfully implementing the Competency Evaluation Program for Prospective United Nations Peacekeepers (CEPPP) in September, demonstrating its capabilities and commitment to participating in the mission.

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