The event witnessed the participation of various ministries and departments in the Abyei region and affiliated units of the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA).
The Abyei region, covering an area of over 10,000 sq.km, is mainly desert and agricultural land, with a distinct dry and rainy season climate. There is no fixed water supply system here. The dry season also often witnesses the gradual depletion of water in natural ponds and lakes. Besides the need for fresh water, the need for domestic water has long been a pressing issue for the people in Abyei.
"The complex political security situation, coupled with the nomadic lifestyle of the majority of the population, has led to shortages of food and medical supplies. The water crisis has exacerbated the lives of the people here," said Deng Arop De. Mading, Minister of Health for the Abyei region.
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Delegates exchanging opinions at the seminar |
During the seminar, delegates discussed and delved into the remaining issues as well as the causes leading to the water crisis in Abyei. Alongside their professional duties, humanitarian issues are always a top priority for UNISFA, including activities aimed at strengthening, supporting, and improving the lives of people in the area.
It is known that since taking on the mission in Abyei, Vietnam's Engineering Company has implemented many activities to serve the community, such as supporting road construction, building schools, repairing houses, and making boats... The Vietnamese unit has organized dredging of drainage canals before the rainy season, digging wells, providing water pumps, supplying clean water by tankers twice a week, and most recently, establishing a clean water supply point near the Highway base.
Colonel Nguyen Viet Hung, Commanding Officer of the Vietnamese peacekeeping force at UNISFA and Head of Vietnam's Engineering Company, said, "In the coming time, we will continue to coordinate with UNISFA agencies and units as well as local authorities to help people of Abyei better manage environmental sanitation to protect their water sources and exploit more clean water sources to supply to the people here."
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Troops of Vietnam's Engineering Company in a joint photo with attending delegates |
The seminar also provided an opportunity for UNISFA to provide consultancy for the Abyei authorities on pressing issues such as environmental pollution, education, health, and propose long-term solutions.
Nyinkwany Aguer Bol, Minister of Education for the Abyei region, highly appreciated the practicality of the discussions and hoped that the seminar would become an annual activity to find the best solutions for the people and UNISFA in maintaining peace and stability in the Abyei region.
Translated by Chung Anh