Following a memorandum signed between Head of Vietnam’s Permanent Delegation to the United Nations, Dang Dinh Quy, and U.N. Under Secretary General for Field Support, Atul Khare, at the U.N. headquarters in New York last week, Vietnam will send 63 military doctors and medical equipment to South Sudan. 

Vietnam’s Deputy Minister of Defense Nguyen Chi Vinh hands over the decision to send 30 doctors to the field hospital in South Sudan signed by the President. He demanded these doctors to prove their qualities to national peers.

On Monday morning, the first group of 30 Vietnamese military doctors left for the trip from Ho Chi Minh City. This is the first time Vietnam is sending military doctors as part of U.N. peacekeeping forces.

"Being here today is a great honor for me. After four years of training, I’m ready for my duty. This is all for my country and my family,” said doctor Sa Minh Ngoc. Among the 63 doctors leaving this time are 10 women.

The 30 Vietnamese military doctors march in line to the Boeing C-17 Globemaster III of the Royal Australian Air Force that will take them to South Sudan. The Boeing C-17 Globemaster III of the Royal Australian Air Force arrived at Tan Son Nhat International Airport in HCMC on Sunday afternoon.

Doctor Sa Minh Ngoc.

The aircraft has a loading capacity at more than 77 tons and a cruising speed of 829 kilometers per hour.

Most of the 63 Vietnamese doctors are from the HCMC-based Military Hospital 175, and they will take over a U.N. field hospital belonging to the U.K. in South Sudan.

Vietnam has enlarged its role in U.N. peacekeeping and is taking part in more operations in Africa. As of June 20 Vietnamese officers were in U.N. peacekeeping operations in Central Africa and South Sudan.

The 30 Vietnamese military doctors march in line to the Boeing C-17 Globemaster III of the Royal Australian Air Force that will take them to South Sudan.

The country is also actively campaigning to become a non-permanent member of the U.N. Security Council for the 2020-21 term. Asia-Pacific nations had agreed last May to nominate Vietnam to this position. Vietnam will face a vote next June.

If elected, it will be the second time Vietnam will be on the Security Council after being on it once earlier in 2008-2009.

Vietnam’s peacekeeping force ready to receive tasks in South Sudan

Deputy Minister of National Defence Sen. Lieut. Gen. Nguyen Chi Vinh on September 29 assigned tasks to military doctors of Vietnam’s first level-2 field hospital who will travel to South Sudan on October 1 to undertake the UN’s peacekeeping mission.

 

Vietnam's contributions to UN peacekeeping operations

 

 

Vietnam sends seven more officers to join UN peacekeeping missions

Vietnam has appointed seven additional military officers to participate in the United Nations peacekeeping activities in the Central African Republic and South Sudan following the President's Decision, as announced on May 21.

 

Source: VnExpress