Peacekeepers of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan during a patrol on March 7, 2018. (Photo: Reuters) The debate on “UN peacekeeping operations: Improving Safetyand Security of Peacekeepers” was attended by Under-Secretary-General for PeaceOperations Jean-Pierre Lacroix, Under-Secretary-General for Operational SupportAtul Khare and Under-Secretary-General for Safety and Security Gilles Michaud.
UN peacekeepers play a very important role inde-escalating tension and ending conflicts, enforcing ceasefire and politicalagreements, protecting civilians and facilitating the provision of humanitarianassistance, Quy said. They help fulfill the UN mission's mandate and the responsibility of the UNSC in maintaininginternational peace and security.
However, peacekeepers are facing a growing number ofdeliberate attacks and accidents while performing their duties, he said, urgingall parties to observe international laws and related UNSC resolutions to enhancetheir safety and security.
The Vietnamese ambassador asked the UN and its member statesto double efforts to improve peacekeepers’ preparedness through training andupdating training programmes among others, while making sure they are fullyequipped with necessary facilities, information and resources, and protectedagainst emerging threats, such as COVID-19 and improvised explosive devices. Heparticularly called for more attention to be paid to protecting female peacekeepers.
He reiterated Vietnam’s support for UN peacekeepingoperations and that the country attaches great importance to guaranteeing safetyand security of peacekeepers.
According to the UN, since 2013, more than 260peacekeepers have died as a result of malicious attacks, and there have been a considerablenumber of casualties owing to factors such as illness, traffic accidents andother causes.
The unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic has not only affectedthe implementation of peacekeeping mandates, but also posed serious challengesto the safety and security of peacekeepers. Recently, terrorism, maliciousattacks and armed conflicts have cost the lives of a number of peacekeepers inMali, the Central African Republic and other mission areas./.
VNA
