Phnom Penh: Although Cambodia and other countries in the world are currently battling against the Covid-19 crisis, the Kingdom’s humanitarian work on the international stage hasn’t stopped. This first of October Cambodia sent to Mali 300 members of its Blue Helmet troops, including 26 women, to carry out missions for the United Nations.

Cambodia’s Blue Helmet Forces will join the 288th Explosive Ordnance Disposal Squadron and the 927th Airport Maintenance Engineering Squadron. The 300 members sent this Friday makes the eighth force that Cambodia has brought to Mali. Before departure, a farewell ceremony was presided at the Airport with the presence of the Director of National Center for Peacekeeping Forces, General Sem Sovanny, as well as some leaders of the Blue Helmet Army.

Peace cooperation is a global principle and has been playing an important role on international circles, with countries sending joint operations promoted by UN to help regions in conflict restore peace and stability. In this context, Cambodia has gone through nearly three decades of war and only achieved full peace throughout the country in 1998. Now, the Kingdom has been taking steps to expand its influence internationally.

Since 2006, Cambodia’s missions have been successfully done in nine countries and involved 7,000 peacekeepers. In Africa, the Blue Helmet troops were sent to Sudan, South Sudan, Mali and Chad, while in the Middle East they were sent to Lebanon, Syria and Yemen. The troops also participated in missions at the Mediterranean island of Cyprus.

Currently, Cambodia has a force of nearly 800 Blue Helmet troops, including 80 women. The troops are carrying out peacekeeping missions for the United Nations in Lebanon, Sudan, South Sudan, Mali and the Central African Republic.