During the visit, U.N. Under-Secretary-General Atul Khare worked with the company’s commanding officers. At the meeting, Senior Colonel Mac Duc Trong, Head of the company, thanked the U.N. Under-Secretary-General for taking care of the Vietnamese Engineering Company in particular and Vietnam’s peacekeeping force in general.
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U.N. Under-Secretary-General Atul Khare (in suit) visit the Engineering Company Rotation 1 in Highway Base of U.N. Interim Security Force for Abyei. |
He took the occasion to thank functional agencies of the U.N. and UNISFA for supporting and creating favorable conditions for the Vietnamese engineering team’s timely and safe deployment.
According to Colonel Trong, the Vietnamese engineering team has repaired and upgraded 46km of roads to ensure traffic in the 50km long route in the Northern Sub-region, contributing to smooth circulation of goods and socio-economic development in the region and the entire Abyei. In addition, the Vietnamese engineers opened four new patrol routes with a total length of 46km through forest to ensure safety and security.
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At the working session between the U.N. working delegation and the Engineering Company Rotation 1 |
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United Nations Under-Secretary-General Atul Khare is introduced about outcomes of the Engineering Company Rotation 1. |
The team has successfully rescued the U.N. and local people’s 100 vehicles bogged, skidded, and overturned due to poor road infrastructure system. They have maintained the mission’s field airport to ensure its around-the-clock operation and cooperated with agencies and units to consolidate their barracks.
At the meeting, Colonel Trong affirmed that the Vietnamese Engineering Company has brought into full play the Vietnamese engineering force’s qualifications and capabilities, strictly observed all principles and regulations of the U.N. and the Mission, overcome all difficulties, been ready to undertake and well perform tasks assigned by the Mission’s Commanding Officer.
Speaking at the working session, the U.N. Under-Secretary-General affirmed the outcomes of cooperation between the U.N. and Vietnam in different fields, especially in peacekeeping operations. He expressed the hope to visit Vietnam to have discussions with Vietnamese government and military leaders on issues of mutual concern, thus promoting cooperative relationship, especially in peacekeeping.
Recalling his earlier meeting with Abyei’s leaders, U.N. Under-Secretary-General Atul Khare said that representatives of local authorities highly appreciated the Vietnamese Engineering Company’s assistance in improving drainage system, building schools and libraries, and drilling wells.
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The U.N. Under-Secretary-General tours several facilities of the Engineering Company Rotation 1. |
Notably, the unit has called on Vietnamese benefactors to present computers to help students of Abyei’s High School have access to information technology.
The U.N. Under-Secretary-General noted that the company should pay attention to repairing and upgrading barracks in the coming time to improve living conditions for its members, especially female personnel. He requested UNISFA to provide essential materials for the unit to complete the upgrading and prioritize the implementation of “Smart barracks” project at Highway Base in the soonest time.
The U.N. leader also asked UNISFA to survey and install satellite dish or ensure internet connection for the unit’s personnel to watch Vietnam’s national television programs.
Highly appreciating the Vietnamese Engineering Company’s activities, the U.N. Under-Secretary-General thanked Vietnamese peacekeepers for their active and effective contribution to U.N. peacekeeping operations, thus bringing a better life to local residents.
Translated by Tran Hoai