Cambodia Dispatches Troops for UN Mission in Lebanon

Cambodia sent this morning 197 troops, of them four women, to participate in the peacekeeping mission under the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) framework.

The departure ceremony of the Cambodian Field Engineering Contingent 513 was held at Phnom Penh Military Airbase in the presence of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defense H.E. Tea Banh; Minister Attached to the Prime Minister and Chairman of the National Coordination Committee H.E. Prak Sokhon; and UN Resident Coordinator Mr. Douglas Broderick.

According to H.E. Prak Sokhon, the Engineering Unit 513 is a construction unit, attached with a mechanical and manual demining unit. An advance team of 21 persons had departed for Lebanon 10 days ago to settle the ground and receive equipment and supplies that were shipped out of Sihanoukville port in mid October.

Cambodia has so far trained and dispatched five demining units to Sudan and one order keeping unit of 42 men strong for movement control for the UN missions in Chad and Central African Republic, he said.

“ A total of 627 of armed forces, command officers and military observers have been sent to the United Nations Peacekeeping Operations (UNPKO) mission in Sudan, Chad, and Central African Republic. Coupled with today’s departure of engineering unit 513, our total forces participating in the UN peacekeeping mission have reached 845 persons,” he indicated.

For his part, UN Resident Coordinator Mr. Douglas Broderick applauded the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces Peacekeeping Teams for their dedication to providing assistance abroad, to sharing their skills and experience with countries that are suffering due to conflict.

“Your work, and the work of other Cambodian peacekeepers, will help make development possible and give opportunities and hope to the people and to the communities in which they serve,” he added.

Deputy Prime Minister H.E. Tea Banh has reaffirmed the royal government’s strong determination in humanitarian contributions to the world peace and security through the process of sending its troops to different countries under UNPKO.

He also advised the Cambodian troops to respect and obey the military disciplines, ethics, and other international laws and regulations.