On the morning of August 8, the Ministry of National Defense held a farewell ceremony for the 2nd Engineering Team with 184 officers departing for the United Nations peacekeeping mission at the UNISFA mission in the Abyei region, Africa.
Colonel Pham Manh Thang, Director of the Vietnam Peacekeeping Department, said the officers were trained and fully equipped with knowledge and international laws on humanitarianism, conflict, and foreign affairs. They were also trained in survival skills, explosive identification, and standards of conduct.
"All officers and employees in the Team have the capacity to perform the assigned tasks," said Colonel Thang.
According to him, this force is selected and mobilized from agencies and units such as: Military Regions 1, 2, 3, 4; Army Corps 1, 2; the following branches: Engineering, Special Forces, Communications; Vietnam Peacekeeping Department and other agencies and units in the entire army.
The Department has directed the No. 1 Engineering Team (currently performing tasks in the area) to inventory and upgrade equipment; hand over to the No. 2 Engineering Team. The Department has coordinated with the Engineering Corps to purchase and package all military uniforms and necessities for transportation.
Female officers of the 2nd Engineering Team set off for peacekeeping duty on the morning of August 8. Photo: Giang Huy
Assigning the task to Engineering Team No. 2, Senior Lieutenant General Phung Si Tan, Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People's Army, requested the members of the Team to unite, overcome difficulties, and complete all tasks well. "The soldiers need to uphold and promote the tradition and image of Uncle Ho's soldiers in the eyes of international friends; continue to build a good image of the Vietnam People's Army," the Senior Lieutenant General requested.
Lieutenant Colonel Pham Van Hao, Deputy Captain of the 2nd Engineer Team, said this was his third time participating in a peacekeeping mission. During his first term, he served as a military observer at the UNMISS mission in South Sudan, and during his second term, he served as Deputy Director of Field Hospital 2.3.
"This is my third time on a peacekeeping mission. I have accumulated a lot of experience in carrying out the mission as well as a good grasp of the local characteristics to help my teammates quickly get up to speed with the work. I am ready to carry out any task assigned by the organization and the army," said Mr. Hao.
According to the route arranged by the United Nations, to reach the mission area in Abyei, the Team will have to go through 5 flights. Engineering Teams 1 and 2 have coordinated and grasped the characteristics of the area. The Team will continue its mission of securing bridges, roads, constructing works and some civil mobilization and humanitarian support activities.
Lieutenant Colonel Pham Van Hao, Deputy Captain of Engineering Team No. 2. Photo: Giang Huy
Senior Lieutenant Phung Thi Lan Huong, medical officer for the 2nd Engineer Team, was emotional when she set off on her first mission to Africa. In addition to her military medical work, she wants to actively support local medical forces in South Sudan.
Senior Lieutenant Huong said her family supports her a lot, taking care of her grandchildren when she is away. "My wish is to take care of the health of many children and women. I also prepare gifts and am eager to give them to children in South Sudan," she shared.
On November 20, 2022, the Minister of Defense signed a decision to establish the 2nd Engineering Corps with 203 personnel, including 184 regulars and 19 reserves (27 officers, 176 professional soldiers). Abyei is a disputed area between Sudan and South Sudan. The two countries signed an Agreement on June 20, 2011, pledging to withdraw troops from the demilitarized zone in Abyei and establish a joint mechanism to resolve the issue. However, so far, the two countries have not made much substantive progress.
UNISFA was established in 2011 under Security Council Resolution 1990 with a mandate to protect civilians and promote demilitarization in Abyei, with an additional mandate to support the Joint Border Verification and Monitoring Mechanism (JBVMM) in Abyei under Resolution 2024 of 14 December 2011.
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