Vietnam’s Engineering Team No. 4: Peacebuilders in Abyei
WVR - In the arid land of Abyei, where the sun can scorch up to nearly 50 degrees Celsius, the Vietnamese blue-beret soldiers consistently overcome all challenges to fulfill their United Nations peacekeeping missions. Roads are repaired and upgraded, and classrooms become more spacious, all bearing the mark of the Vietnamese engineering soldiers.
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| The Vietnamese Engineering Team performing their duties at the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei. |
In just under 8 months of undertaking their mission at the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei, Vietnam's Engineering Team No. 4 has received three commendation letters from the local authorities. This is a recognition of the exceptional efforts of the Vietnamese engineering force through meaningful projects and activities in Abyei.
Engineering Team No. 4 consists of 184 officers and staff, mobilized from various agencies and units. After rigorous training courses meeting the high demands of the United Nations, they joined the ranks of the Vietnamese Engineering Team to perform their duties at the mission with various roles in construction, bridge and road, logistics-support, and protection units. They are the peace bridges connecting Vietnam with the distant land of Abyei.
Amidst the "African furnace"
Sharing about the task of ensuring safety for Engineering Team No. 4 when participating in external missions such as road construction, school building, trench digging, and housing construction, Captain Dam Van Dat stated: The protection team members must wear bulletproof vests, helmets, and be fully equipped with weapons in the scorching heat of 45-50 degrees Celsius.
But as a commando soldier forged and trained with 12 years of service, Captain Dam Van Dat, like his teammates, has a clear mindset when joining the blue-beret force.
During his missions with the Engineering Team in Abyei, what troubles Captain Dam Van Dat is the harsh life of the local people. The thatched roofs, mud-plastered houses, lack of electricity, water, and even basic living conditions make the Vietnamese blue-beret soldiers deeply appreciate the value of peace.
Therefore, every completed road, every school erected is not merely a technical project but a gesture of sharing with those who are still in need.
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| Captain Dam Van Dat performing his duties at the mission. |
The initial days of interacting with the local people were also challenging. Not everyone could communicate in English. When language barriers arose, the Vietnamese soldiers chose to communicate through eye contact, gestures, and sincere actions. This closeness earned the Abyei people’s affection for the "Bo doi Cu Ho".
After hours of guarding in harsh weather conditions, Captain Dam Van Dat spends his rest time connecting with his family. He considers it a joy and motivation to strengthen him for his duties. Being away from family for months, calls via Zalo or WhatsApp become the connecting thread between Abyei and his homeland Vietnam.
Caring for colleagues and locals' health
While members of the construction and bridge-road units directly engage in field tasks, members of the Level 1 Field Hospital of Engineering Team No. 4 contribute in another aspect – medical examination, treatment, and patient care.
Sharing about her work, Major Hua Thi Duoc stated that she starts her day with the sound of the wake-up whistle and morning exercises. After a quick meal, she and her colleagues dive into the hospital's work routine, primarily focusing on medical examination, treatment, and patient care. After office hours, she joins her colleagues in increasing production to improve the unit's living standards.
One of her most memorable experiences was an emergency case of a patient suffering from anaphylactic shock due to bee stings. When brought to the hospital, the patient was in a state of breathlessness, with a swollen face and nearly 40 bee stings on the body. The on-duty team immediately implemented emergency measures, providing oxygen and anti-shock treatment according to protocol.
About 20 minutes later, the patient gradually stabilized. Contributing to the health assurance for the entire Engineering Team, as well as international colleagues at the mission or local people, for her and the field hospital's medical staff, are simple yet meaningful joys.
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| Major Hua Thi Duoc and children in Abyei. |
After her international mission, Duoc increasingly feels the affection that international friends have for Vietnamese soldiers. For her, the image of Vietnamese soldiers in the peacekeeping force represents a friendly, compassionate, and peace-loving nation.
Regarding life in Abyei, Duoc shared that her biggest challenge was not only the harsh African weather but also the feeling of being away from family for an extended period. However, what helped her overcome was the camaraderie of her teammates and support from the home front.
To focus on her duties far from home, she always has a solid support system. Her husband, also a soldier, understands and shares her responsibilities. At home, he takes care of the children and manages the family. Both sides of the family also consistently encourage and support her to confidently complete her international mission.
A warm kitchen far from home
At the barracks of Engineering Team No. 4, where hundreds of officers and soldiers work intensely every day, Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Thi Thuy is one of the logistics team members caring for the health of her teammates with hot meals.
As a member of the protection team and a logistics staff, Thuy's job is not only to ensure daily meals for the unit but also to prepare meals for forces on external missions, organize logistics for cultural and culinary exchanges, and welcome international delegations visiting the unit.
In Abyei, logistics work has never been easy. The harsh weather, lack of material conditions, and long working hours from early morning to late evening mean pressure is always present.
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| Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Thi Thuy, a member of the logistics team of Engineering Team No. 4. |
As a female soldier, she must adapt to a multinational environment, maintaining strict military discipline while ensuring flexibility and attentiveness in communication and service.
Yet, overcoming all difficulties, what makes her happiest is very simple: Seeing her teammates enjoy their meals after a hard day's work. "When my teammates return and enjoy their meals, I feel my work is more meaningful," she shared.
She said that before taking on the peacekeeping mission, she had hesitations and thoughts. Her husband is a soldier, often on duty; their second child is preparing for a crucial exam. But it was her children who motivated her. "Mom, just go, we are always proud of you," that simple encouragement gave her confidence to set off.
Despite the thousands of kilometers apart, she maintains regular calls home to encourage her husband, children, and both sides of the family. Living in a land still lacking, with conflicts, she deeply appreciates the value of peaceful life at home.
She often tells her children that in Abyei, many people still lack food, clean water, electricity, and live in constant fear of conflict. From this, she hopes her children understand the peace they have, to cherish and strive more in life.
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| Members of the logistics team caring for their teammates with hot meals. |
From muddy roads, bridges needing repair, emergency cases in the field hospital to hot meals in the barracks… the image of Vietnamese blue-beret soldiers in Abyei emerges as simple yet noble. They carry not only the skills, courage, and discipline of the Vietnamese military but also the compassion, international responsibility, and peace aspirations of the Vietnamese nation.
Letters of gratitude from the Abyei authorities and the Government of South Sudan recognize the capabilities and contributions of the Vietnamese peacekeeping force. But above all, the greatest reward for the blue-beret soldiers is the trust and affection of the local people and the beautiful image of Vietnam spreading in distant lands.
