Indian troopers serving in peacekeeping mission in South Sudan get UN medals

On June 14, United Nations awarded 135 Indian troopers at present on UN Duty as peacekeepers. These troopers are sometimes referred to as the Blue Berets. They have been awarded for his or her devoted service in direction of their excellent efficiency in Jonglei State and the Greater Pibor Administrative Area.
The medal ceremony passed off in Bor, South Sudan. The ceremony was presided over by  Lt Gen Shailesh Tinaikar, UN Force Commander, who can also be an Indian Army Officer. Apart from the Indian troops, 103 Sri Lankan Blue berets have been additionally awarded the medal.
Lieutenant General Tinaikar stated, “My heartfelt congratulations to all these officers for their contributions towards the fulfilment of the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) mandate in this challenging environment.” UNMISS additionally printed a tweet during which it stated, “Take a bow, people of #India! Some 135 of your peacekeeping troops, based in #SouthSudan and serving with #UNMISS, have received @UN medals for their outstanding performance in Jonglei State and the Greater Pibor Administrative Area. #ServingForPeace”
Take a bow, individuals of #India! Some 135 of your peacekeeping troops, primarily based in #SouthSudan and serving with #UNMISS, have acquired @UN medals for his or her excellent efficiency in Jonglei State and the Greater Pibor Administrative Area: https://t.co/Gqy7xTM6Hr#ServingForPeace #A4P pic.twitter.com/kw9gpuZyWE— UNMISS (@unmissmedia) June 14, 2021
Brigadier General Deepak Kumar Baniya, Sector East Commander, stated, “I admire the desire to achieve peace among all the military personnel receiving well-deserved medals on this day.” He additionally oversaw the 2 award ceremonies.
Indian troopers in South Sudan
The Indian troopers are deployed in Bor, Pibor, and Akobo. They have engaged in numerous actions, together with civil-military cooperation resembling veterinary camps. The troopers have handled a number of violent conditions in risky sectors of South Sudan that’s recognized for intercommunal violence. Floods have added to the issues for the troops serving within the space.
The Indian troopers working with MONUSCO, a UN peacekeeping mission headquartered within the Congolese metropolis of Goma and bordering Rwanda, have earned praises for his or her exemplary providers. They facilitate evacuation and safety of civilians from Goma City. They additionally supplied assist for the evacuation of UN personnel within the jap Democratic Republic of Congo after volcano Mount Nyiragongo erupted.
India’s contribution in direction of UN missions
India is among the many high troop contributors for varied United Nations missions. Around 5,500 Indian troopers have been deployed for eight out of 13 UN Missions internationally. For the primary time in 2018, international troops had began serving below the Indian battalion in Lebanon. Reportedly, 120 Kazakh Army troops have been components of a number of operations with the Indian Army. In 2007, for the primary time in historical past, an all-woman contingent to a UN peacemaking mission was despatched by India.
Since 1953, over 2,50,000 Indian troopers have served in 52 out of 71 UN peacekeeping missions. Over 160 Indian peacekeepers have misplaced their lives whereas serving below the UN flag.
Earlier this 12 months, the federal government of India had gifted 200,000 doses of AstraZeneca Covid vaccines, manufactured in India by SII, for all UN peacekeepers. The UN and WHO had thanked India for this gesture.