Inauguration ceremony of a smart camp at the Highway base in Abyei area. Photo courtesy of Việt Nam Military Construction Engineering Contingent

ABYEI – The Việt Nam Military Construction Engineering Contingent, who are taking on a UN peacekeeping mission in Abyei,  between Sudan and South Sudan, held the inauguration of a smart camp at the Highway base, on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the Điện Biên Phủ Victory on May 7.

This is the first smart camp at the United Nations Mission (UN).

The Smart Camp project began on March 28 last year, building a total of 30 buildings over a series of three phases.

The camp consists of office systems, houses, cafeterias, kitchens, physical rooms, toilet systems and utility and auxiliary works such as water and solid waste treatment systems, a repair station, a generator area, a solar power station and a security monitoring system.

Colonel Nguyễn Việt Hưng, Commander of the Vietnamese peacekeeping force at the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA), and Captain of the Việt Nam Military Construction Engineering Contingent speaks at the inauguration ceremony. Photo courtesy of Việt Nam Military Construction Engineering Contingent

Colonel Nguyễn Việt Hưng, Commander of the Vietnamese peacekeeping force at the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA), and Captain of the Việt Nam Military Construction Engineering Contingent, expressed his honour and joy to have been trusted by the mission and assigned the task of implementing the Smart Camp Project.

Hưng said this was also the first project that the Việt Nam Contingent had implemented at the mission and the work demonstrated Việt Nam’s capacity and responsibility.

The success of the Smart Camp project within the mission has created favourable conditions for United Nations officials and employees to contribute to the peace keeping, stability and development in Abyei, he said.

"May 7 is also a day of great significance for the Vietnamese army and people, it is the day that 70 years ago, the Việt Nam People's Army and the Vietnamese people won the victory at Điện Biên Phủ, a brilliant milestone, marking the change of an era in the war,” the colonel said.

“Inaugurating the smart camp at the mission was important to us, because in the period of peace building, integration and development, that success represents Việt Nam’s responsibility and political commitment towards the international community when sending forces to participate in UN peacekeeping, for the common goal of carrying out the tasks of humanitarian assistance, construction, stability and global development." 

Representatives visit the smart camp. Photo courtesy of Việt Nam Military Construction Engineering Contingent

The Việt Nam Military Construction Engineering Contingent plan on expanding their engineering work in the future and will also use their experience in the Abyei work to give them ideas for building barracks in isolated areas in Việt Nam.

Abyei is a disputed area between Sudan and South Sudan.

In 2011, the two countries signed an agreement committing to withdraw troops from the demilitarised zone in Abyei and establish a joint mechanism to resolve the issue.

UNISFA was established in 2011 under Resolution 1990 of the United Nations Security Council with the mandate to protect civilians and promote peace in Abyei.

The 2nd Engineering Team has 203 soldiers, including 19 women who have been in Abyei from August 2023.

2024 marks the 10th anniversary of Việt Nam deploying forces to participate in the United Nations peacekeeping mission. VNS