Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Chi Vinh, Deputy Minister of National Defense, Head of the Vietnam inter-sectorial working group for Vietnam’s participation in U.N. peacekeeping operations and Head of the Steering Committee on Vietnam’s participation in U.N. peacekeeping operations under the Ministry of National Defense (MND) expressed his trust in the Vietnamese blue-berets now working overseas at a teleconference connecting Hanoi with the forces in the two above-mentioned countries held on June 15.
At the meeting, Sr. Lt. Gen. Tran Quang Phuong, Deputy Director of the General Department of Politics and Deputy Head of the MND’s Steering Committee on Vietnam’s participation in U.N. peacekeeping operations, announced the letter of commendation from the Minister of National Defense General Ngo Xuan Lich to the Vietnamese peacekeepers at the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) and the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA).
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Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Chi Vinh speaks at the conference. |
In the letter, General Lich applauded great efforts of the Vietnamese peacekeeping forces and their outstanding achievements in the fight against COVID-19.
The letter highlighted good deeds that the Vietnamese peacekeepers have done in an effort to contain COVID-19 in the countries, emphasizing their pro-activeness, creativity, close coordination, and promotion of synergy of Vietnamese peacekeepers in different positions in the COVID-19 fight. The peacekeepers' activities have made them deserve to be “Uncle Ho’s soldiers,” and forces that “keep a peaceful world.”
Apart from the letter, General Phuong also announced the MND’s decision on awarding these peacekeepers. Accordingly, each peacekeeper will receive USD 100 per month during six months of taking duties at UNMISS and MINUSCA.
According to General Phuong, the MND has directed the Vietnam Department of Peacekeeping Operations and other relevant agencies to early transport medical supplies, worth VND 2 billion in total, to help the Level-two Field Hospital Rotation 2 of Vietnam in South Sudan in COVID-19 prevention and treatment for patients.
He also highly valued Vietnamese peacekeepers’ observance of instructions from the Vietnamese higher levels and adjustment of COVID-19 response plans in line with the development of the disease in the countries.
The Vietnamese peacekeepers in South Sudan and the Central African Republic also briefed the participants on their task performances during the COVID-19 pandemic, especially the COVID-19 prevention and control work.
According to Lieutenant Colonel Vo Van Hien, Director of the Level-two Field Hospital Rotation 2, a series of COVID-19 preventive measures have been implemented by the hospital’s personnel. These include the establishment of a quarantine facility, installation of cameras at patients’ rooms to help health workers reduce contact with patients, collection of patients’ symptoms and epidemiological information through telephone and from watch points to serve later treatment.
From the Central Africa Republic, Lieutenant Colonel Hoang Trung Kien, Head of the Vietnamese working group for Vietnam’s participation in U.N. peacekeeping operations in the country reported on the group’s COVID-19 prevention and other applied preventive measures to four scenarios of the pandemic.
All Vietnamese peacekeepers in the two countries showed their high resolve and unity to fulfill all assignments by the Vietnamese Party, State, and military.
In his speech, General Vinh asked the Vietnamese peacekeepers in the two countries to embrace the directions from the Defense Minister. He said that the letter encouraged them to complete all assigned tasks.
He proudly said that no COVID-19 case has been found in the Vietnamese military. Therefore, he requested them to be optimistic, and stay united to curb the pandemic in the host countries.
He confirmed that the MND will apply proper policies for Vietnamese peacekeepers. On the occasion, he wished them good health and safety while taking missions overseas.
Translated by Mai Huong