Deputy Defence Minister Sen. Lieut. Gen. Nguyễn Chí Vịnh (fourth from right) on Thursday in Hà Nội reviewed Việt Nam's preparedness for the level-2 field hospital No. 2, which is set to replace the No. 1 hospital currently operational in South Sudan. — VNA/VNS Photo Dương Giang

HÀ NỘI — An inter-sectoral conference was held in Hà Nội on Thursday to review preparation work of the deployment of the level-2 field hospital No. 2 to replace the No. 1 currently operational in the war-torn African country, South Sudan.

The conference also looked at Việt Nam’s preparedness for the deployment of a sapper company and considered the possibility of sending the civil force to join the United Nations’ peacekeeping activities.

Director of Việt Nam Department of Peacekeeping Operations Maj. Gen. Hoàng Kim Phụng said that the level-2 field hospital No. 2 will have 63 staff members and seven reserves, including 10 women.

All training activities related to military affairs, foreign language, logistics, medical and peacekeeping knowledge have been completed basically, Phụng stated.

The sapper company will have 319 members, including 19 reserves. Training works have been carried out concertedly.

Phụng said that the UN has appreciated Việt Nam’s efforts and asked that the defence ministry should consider deploying more diverse elements to the country’s UN peacekeeping mission, including police officers and civil forces, which the UN supports wholeheartedly.

Việt Nam first joined the UN peacekeeping missions in 2014 with the establishment of the Việt Nam Department of Peacekeeping Operations of the Ministry of Defence and the dispatch of the first two officers to the UN Peacekeeping Mission in South Sudan.

After five years, Việt Nam deployed 100 officers, including 12 women, to the UN’s two peacekeeping missions in South Sudan and Central African Republic.

Speaking at the conference, Deputy Defence Minister Sen. Lieut. Gen. Nguyễn Chí Vịnh asked relevant units to fulfil tasks and ensure safety.

Vịnh told the Military Medical University to maintain a high rate of women in the mission and to focus on environment protection issues to contribute to the UN’s goals on climate change and plastic waste.

The hand-over between the level-2 field hospitals No. 2 and No. 1 should be implemented seriously and on schedule to avoid interrupting hospital operation.

He requested the Foreign Ministry to coordinate with the Defence Ministry to organise peacekeeping drills for sappers, considering it one of activities for 2020, the year that Việt Nam serves as a non-permanent member at the UN Security Council. — VNS