PHNOM PENH, July 10 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia on Thursday dispatched the 11th batch of 244 peacekeepers, including 13 women, to join a United Nations peacekeeping operation in war-torn Central African Republic (CAR).
Speaking at the departure ceremony held at the Phnom Penh International Airport, Major General Sem Ratana, acting director-general of the National Centre for Peacekeeping Forces, said the military engineering group would work on mine clearance and explosive ordnance disposal, as well as the construction of roads, bridges, and campsites, among others.
Joseph Scheuer, UN resident coordinator in Cambodia, said Cambodian forces have a proud and strong peacekeeping tradition, with more than 10,000 Cambodian peacekeepers participating in multiple UN missions across nine countries.
"On behalf of the United Nations, I would like to express our gratitude to the Royal Government of Cambodia for its efforts to advance the International peace and security agenda through active participation and significant contributions to UN peacekeeping missions," he said. ■
