Speaking at the ceremony, Deputy Defense Minister Sr. Lt. Gen. Nguyen Chi Vinh, head of the steering committee of Vietnam’s participation in UN peacekeeping operations, asked leaders of the hospital to ensure safety for the staffers and carry forward the spirit of solidarity to successfully fulfill tasks assigned by the UN.

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Seeing the peacekeepers off at the airport

He also requested the Vietnam Department of Peacekeeping Operations to implement policies towards families of the officers and soldiers, and pledged that the Ministry of National Defense will continue to coordinate with relevant agencies and units to create the best possible conditions for the hospital to operate in South Sudan, contributing to raising the position and prestige of Vietnam and the Vietnam People’s Army in particular at the international arena.

The L2FH No.1 is the first-ever independent unit of Vietnam to join the UN peacekeeping operations. It will replace the L2FH of the UK in Bentiu, South Sudan, to provide medical care for staffers of the UNMISS within one year.

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In a group photo. Photo: qdnd.vn

On October 1, the first group of the hospital with 32 members set off for the African country.

On November 25, 2014, the Ministry of National Defense issued a decision to establish the L2FH No.1 with a 63-strong staff, a step to realize the Party and State’s policy on joining the United Nations’ peacekeeping operations in the field of humanitarian activities.

Source: VNA