Phnom Penh: Cambodia and other countries in the world are currently battling the pandemic, but that doesn’t mean the Kingdom’s humanitarian work has stopped. Last Friday, Cambodia sent 300 “Blue Helmets” to Mali, in order to replace 300 others whose tour of duty had been completed. On Sunday, those peacekeepers returned to a warm welcome at Phnom Penh International Airport.

On Friday of last week, Cambodia sent 300 “Blue Helmets” to join the UN’s Explosive Ordnance Disposal Squadron and the Airport Maintenance Engineering Squadron in Mali. They were the eighth batch of peacekeepers the kingdom has contributed to the UN’s peacekeeping mission in the country. The troops they have replaced landed back in the Kingdom on Sunday morning to a reception ceremony. It was presided over by General Sem Sovanny. All the returning Blue Helmets were tested for Covid-19, and all tested negative, but are still in quarantine at the Multi-National Peacekeeping Forces Training School in Kampong Speu.

Since 2006, Cambodia’s Blue Helmets have contributed to peacekeeping operations in nine countries. The kingdom currently has a force of nearly 800 Blue Helmets, including 80 women. They carry out peacekeeping missions for the United Nations in Lebanon, Sudan, Mali and the Central African Republic.