UNITED NATIONS, May 22 (APP):: Pakistani peacekeepers serving the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) have been honoured with UN medals for their exceptional service in protecting some 300,000 residents of Bentiu, the capital of the country\u2019s Unity state, from catastrophic floods, according to a Mission\u2019s press release received at UN Headquarters in New York Tuesday. Numbering 272, the Pakistani Blue-Helmets \u201cworked tirelessly\u201d in building and maintaining dikes which kept 5,600 square kilometers of floodwaters from engulfing the Bentiu Internally Displaced Person camp, which shelters hundreds of thousands of people, as well as the surrounding area, infrastructure, and service providers, the release said.<\/p>\n
As their missions comes to an end, the Pakistani unit received a citation for outstanding performance, and 23 blue helmets were awarded the prestigious Force Commander Commendation Card. Major Saad Sultan, operation officer and recipient of the Force Commander\u2019s Commendation , expressed gratitude for the recognition. \u201cWe worked day and night, often at personal risk.,\u201d he said. \u2018Being recognized with the UN Peace Medals and the Force Commander Commendation Card is a great honour that will always remind me of our service to humanity in South Sudan,\u201d Major Sultan added. Climatic shocks have wreaked havoc and the resultant floods have erased villages and submerged supply routes in every direction, the press release said. <\/p>\n
\u201cA breach of the dike system would cause catastrophe for the high concentration of people left with no choice but to seek refuge in the sanctuary created by the Pakistani peacekeepers.\u201d An incident in October 2022, when a rupture in the western dike wall threatened disaster, underscored the importance of their work, the release said, adding that Immediate and cooperative efforts saved the camp that night. \u201cTo prevent such an event from occurring again, Blue-Helmets now monitor over 80 kilometres of dikes day and night.\u201d The current unit, building on the work and learnings of previous Pakistani Blue-Helmets, says that under their watch, there have been no breaches in the dike system since October 2022.<\/p>\n
Major Hina Naseer, the contingent doctor, said she was proud of the legacy that Pakistani peacekeepers past and present have left in Bentiu. \u201cWe safeguarded thousands of lives from floods, leaving our mark on Bentiu forever,\u201d Ms. Nasser said. UNMISS Force Commander, Lieutenant-General Mohan Subramanian, who attended the ceremony commended the men and women of the Pakistani unit. \u201cTheir efforts, serving in one of the toughest locations, have made immense contributions through effective, economical, and timely completion of critical engineering projects. These altruistic acts speak volumes of their professional commitment,\u201d Gen. Subramanian, The press release said, \u201cDespite the compounded challenges of climate disasters, food crises, conflict, and disease outbreaks, the dedication of the Pakistani peacekeepers remains unwavering. Their efforts have provided a semblance of normalcy and hope to the residents of Bentiu, showcasing the vital role of UN peacekeeping missions in addressing both environmental and humanitarian crises. \u201cAs this unit prepares to welcome the next contingent of Pakistani Army engineers, they leave behind a legacy of safety and resilience in Bentiu.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
UNITED NATIONS, May 22 (APP):: Pakistani peacekeepers serving the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) have been honoured with UN medals for their exceptional service in protecting some 300,000 residents of Bentiu, the capital of the country\u2019s Unity state, from catastrophic floods, according to […]<\/p>\n
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