Vietnamese military doctors depart for UN mission in South Sudan

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Anh Kiet 19:08, 2018/10/01

This is the first time Vietnam has deployed an independent unit to directly participate in UN peacekeeping missions.

The first group of 30 Vietnamese military doctors have departed for South Sudan on October 1 evening to take over a field hospital, carrying out the United Nations’ (UN) international mission.

Australia's Air Force's Boeing C-17 Globemaster III landed Tan Son Nhat International Airport. Photo: vnexpress

Under the plan, the first group of officers and soldiers will travel to South Sudan to care for and protect the health of the people here. This is the first time Vietnam has deployed an independent unit to directly participate in UN peacekeeping missions.

The field hospital was comprised of staff selected from the 175 Military Hospital, the 7A Military Hospital, the 7B Military Hospital, and the Army Corps No.4 Hospital.

South Sudan is a country in East Africa, with more than 13 million people. People in this country now face ethnic conflicts, civil war, famine and diseases. Vietnam’s field hospital will be in charge for one year.

Deputy Minister of Defense Nguyen Chi Vinh requested medical officers to thoroughly understand and comply with UN regulations, the host country’s laws, and Vietnamese People's Army’s regulations.

Vietnamese military doctors ready for UN mission in South Sudan. Photo: vnexpress

Severe weather conditions in Africa are not only the only strenuous factor, there are also dangers that may arise from unexpected accidents and attacks from antagonistic forces, extremist troops, or racial and religious conflicts, among others, Vinh said.

Following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on Vietnam’s deployment of a field hospital to South Sudan in New York on September 26, UN Under-Secretary General for Field Support Atul Khare expressed his belief that Vietnam will deploy a high-quality hospital that can effectively contribute to the UN’s peacekeeping activities, and his hope for more contributions from Vietnam to this important mission, Vinh cited.

Vinh also emphasized that the medical officers need to demonstrate its ability to master the language, organization, situation handling and professionalism in the work.

On September 30 afternoon, Australian C-17 military transport aircraft arrived in Ho Chi Minh City to take Vietnamese medical forces to South Sudan on duty.

This is part of an agreement to support the deployment of field hospital to the UN mission in South Sudan.

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