Around 135 Indian peacekeepers working under the United Nations (UN) mission serving in South Sudan have been awarded with UN medals over their outstanding contribution in Jonglei State and the Greater Pibor Administrative area.
As per the statement given by the UN mission based in South Sudan (UNMISS), the UN Force Commander in the country’s Bor attached the medals to the chests of 135 Indian along with 103 Sri Lankan Blue Berets who are from the aviation unit.
Force Commander of the peacekeeping mission, Lieutenant General Shailesh Tinaikar said, “My heartfelt contributions to all these officers for their contributions towards the fulfillment of the UNMISS mandate in this challenging environment.”
The Indian troops are placed in Bor, Pibor along with a temporary operating base in Akobo and have participated in several activities which also extends to civil-military cooperation like the veterinary camp, stated the UNMISS.
The troops have fought with the violent reality in the volatile region based in South Sudan, often plagued by intercommunal violence. Flooding along with consequential migration of thousands have increased further complications. India’s involvement in overall 49 peacekeeping operations throughout the world has resulted in loss of 157 lives.
Sector East Commander Brigadier, General Deepak Kumar Banya said, “I admire the desire to achieve peace among all the military personnel receiving well-deserved medals on this day.”
Over the side of Sri Lankan aviation unit, Tinaikar remarked, “You have flown in the most difficult of circumstances. In the past, two helicopters have been shot down in this part of the country, but you have never let that stop you from carrying on with their vital work. You have been as brave and committed as one would expect pilots from your country to be.”
(With inputs from ANI)
- Melukote – Vairamudi Festival – 2022
- Bengaluru metro to function on weekdays, closed on weekends from July 1
- India provides reciprocal exemption of EU Digital COVID Certificate to include Covishield, Covaxin
- PM Modi will address the Digital India beneficiaries at 11 am tomorrow
- Pvt hospitals will obtain Covid vaccine doses via CoWIN starting from July 1
