Staff of the second Level-2 Field Hospital take a photo before leaving for South Sudan. — VNA/VNS Photos Dương Giang

HÀ NỘI — A total of 30 members of the second Level-2 Field Hospital departed for South Sudan from Hà Nội on the Royal Australian Air Force’s Boeing C-17 Globemaster III on Tuesday morning.

The staff will participate in the United Nations Peacekeeping mission in the war-ravaged South Sudan that is now five years deep into recurring conflicts that have displaced nearly 2 million people in the country and resulted in 4 million refugees.

Brigadier Hoàng Kim Phụng, director of Việt Nam Department of Peacekeeping Operations, said the welcoming of the second Level-2 Field Hospital was well prepared by both host country and UN.

Brigadier Hoàng Kim Phụng, director of Việt Nam Department of Peacekeeping Operations, gives soldiers handshakes and best wishes for their mission in South Sudan.

He also recalled achievements of the first Level-2 Field Hospital including treating more than 2,000 patients and receiving the UN peace medal.

“Normally, a level-2 field hospital can only receive 200 patients a year,” said Phụng.

“The performance of Việt Nam’s first Level-2 Field Hospital proved our capacity in treating and we have gained the trust of local people, further creating motivation for the second Level-2 Hospital.”

A soldier and his son exchange a goodbye kiss.

Earlier on November 19, 29 members of the Vietnamese hospital’s staff safely arrived at UN Protection of Civilians Site Bentiu. 

According to deputy director of the Việt Nam Department of Peacekeeping Operations Colonel Nguyễn Như Cảnh, members of the Level-2 Field Hospital No 2 were trained in line with UN standards in the UK, Australia, Japan, the Republic of Korea, China, France and other ASEAN states.

Members of the field hospital head to the aircraft to UN Camp in Bentiu, South Sudan.

Vietnamese female peacekeepers talk to a military officer from Australian Air Force. In addition to providing airlift, Australia has also been active in helping Vietnamese military officers with English language and Subject Matter Expert training.

Deputy Minister of Defence Lieutenant General Nguyễn Chí Vịnh said sending military medics to join UN peacekeeping operations showecases Việt Nam’s active contributions to maintaining regional and global peace and security. — VNS