Cambodia last night sent a total of 273 blue beret troops, including 34 women, to replace their counterparts who have ended their one-year peacekeeping mission in the Republic of Mali.
Of them, 129 are from the Airfield Engineer Unit and 144 others from the Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit.
They were seen off at Phnom Penh International Airport by H.E. Gen. Sem Sovanny, Director General of the National Centre for Peacekeeping Forces, Mines and Explosive Remnants of War Clearance (NPMEC).
Speaking on the occasion, H.E. Gen. Sem Sovanny said Cambodia has become one of the leading countries in sending its peacekeeping forces under the UN umbrella to assist countries affected by landmines and explosive remnants of war and to participate in the construction of infrastructure and airport maintenance.
Since 2006, Cambodia has sent 8,475 peacekeepers for 11 missions in nine countries: Sudan, South Sudan, Chad, the Central African Republic, Cyprus, Lebanon, Mali, Syria, and Yemen.
Currently, some 800 Cambodian peacekeepers have been fulfilling their missions in South Sudan, Lebanon, Central African Republic, and Mali.
