Engineering Company Rotation 1 in Abyei celebrates National Day

PANO - Vietnam’s Engineering Company Rotation 1 at the U.N. Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) held a get-together to celebrate the 77th National Day (September 2) on September 2 at Highway Base.

All members of the Engineering Company Rotation 1 present at UNISFA

Advance mission of Engineering Company Rotation 1 reaches UNISFA

Preparation for departure of engineering troops to UNISFA completed

The event was attended by Acting Head of UNISFA Mission Brigadier General Atogebakga Alobawone, Chief of Staff of the mission Colonel Elie Bukuru, more than 100 other guests from functional departments and agencies of the mission, and local leaders.

During the event, participants saluted the national flag, sang the national anthem, watched a documentary on the history of the Vietnamese National Day, and enjoyed artistic performances by members of the engineering company. The ceremony was credited as a unique cultural feast for international friends.

On the occasion, the first Engineering Company of Vietnam treated delegates and international friends with special Vietnamese dishes, including pho, nem (spring rolls), banh te (rice cake filled with brown onion), coffee, and tea, among others.

Speaking at the event, Deputy Director of the Vietnam Department of Peacekeeping Operations, commander of the Vietnamese peacekeeping force in UNISFA, and Head of Vietnam’s Engineering Company Rotation 1 Senior Colonel Mac Duc Trong briefed delegates on Vietnam’s achievements over the past years and the outcomes obtained by the engineering company since its deployment to the mission three months ago.

In particular, the Vietnamese engineering troops have done their best to keep arterial roads in North sub-division in shape in the rainy season and dredged the drainage system to prevent flooding in residential areas. The Vietnamese peacekeepers rescued more than 100 stuck vehicles of the U.N. and local people.

At the event, Brigadier General Atogebakga Alobawone congratulated the Vietnamese Engineering Company Rotation 1 on the National Day and expressed his admiration for the indomitable and resilient spirit of the Vietnamese people. UNISFA’s representative also highlighted the important role and contribution of the Vietnamese unit to the mission and local residents.

According to Senior Colonel Mac Duc Trong, this is the first important political event organized by the unit since it was deployed to the mission three months ago. He said that all preparations for the event started when the team arrived in the mission.

Through the event, the Vietnamese Engineering Company in particular and peacekeeping force in general wanted to strengthen friendship and cooperation with functional agencies of the mission, units of other countries, and localities. It was to popularize the beautiful images of Vietnam, its people, culture, and military to international friends.