A total of 346 Cambodian blue beret troops of the Airfield Engineer Unit 729, the Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit 828, and the Gendarmerie Squadron Unit 171, including 67 women, have been deployed for the UN peacekeeping operations in Mali and South Sudan.
A send-off ceremony was held at the Multinational Peacekeeping Training School (PKO) in Kampong Speu province this morning in the presence of H.E. Prak Sokhonn, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, and Chairman of the National Coordination Committee of UN Peacekeeping Operations; H.E. Sardar Umar Alam, Acting Coordinator of United Nations in Cambodia; and H.E. Gen. Sem Sovanny, Director General of the National Centre for Peacekeeping Forces, Mines and Explosive Remnants of War Clearance (NPMEC).
Speaking on the occasion, H.E. Sardar Umar Alam expressed his deep gratitude to the Royal Government, the Cambodian blue beret troops and the Cambodian people for their sacrifice for world peace. He also encouraged the Royal Government to continue to promote the Women, Peace and Security agenda, as the Women’s Peacekeeping Force serves as a role model for gender equality and inspires girls around the world to take part in peacebuilding initiatives at home or abroad.
H.E. Deputy Prime Minister Prak Sokhonn highly valued H.E. Alam Sardar Umar’s remarks. He also expressed his congratulations to the United Nations Day (Oct. 24), the annual commemoration day of the official establishment of the United Nations on Oct. 24, 1945.
Since 2006, Cambodia has sent 8,302 peacekeepers, including 580 women for 11 missions in nine countries: Sudan, South Sudan, Chad, the Central African Republic, Cyprus, Lebanon, Mali, Syria, and Yemen.
Currently, Cambodian peacekeepers have been fulfilling their missions in South Sudan, Lebanon, Central African Republic, and Mali.
Source: Agency Kampuchea Press