The last 12 members of Vietnam's Level 2 Field Hospital No. 7 have returned home after serving with the UN mission in South Sudan. They arrived at Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City on the evening of October 10. Representatives from the Vietnam Department of Peacekeeping Operations, Military Hospital 175, and fellow members of Level 2 Field Hospital No. 7 welcomed them back. Families, relatives, and friends were also present, greeting the returning peacekeepers with emotional reunions.
The 12 personnel had stayed behind in South Sudan to ensure a smooth handover to Level 2 Field Hospital No. 8, the incoming Vietnamese contingent. Most of the hospital's personnel had already returned to Vietnam on September 27 after completing their assignments. The remaining 12 faced a heavy workload, covering multiple areas such as medical examinations, treatment, operational duties, and logistics. Despite the reduced staffing, the hospital maintained its full operational capacity as a Level 2 medical facility.
Each of the returning personnel had to take on responsibilities beyond their professional specialization. They were tasked with carrying out a comprehensive handover to Level 2 Field Hospital No. 8, which involved more than just inventory checks and the transfer of facilities, equipment, and medical supplies. The process included handing over clinical procedures, operational arrangements, and coordination mechanisms with UN mission authorities, international units, and local partners.
The outgoing personnel worked directly with their successors, sharing experience in medical care, operations, logistics, military affairs, external relations, and community engagement. This ensured continuity of the mission and helped the incoming team take over their responsibilities smoothly. The handover process was crucial in maintaining the hospital's operational capacity and ensuring that patients received uninterrupted medical care.
Even with limited personnel, the hospital remained ready to respond to unexpected assignments. Two nearly simultaneous aeromedical evacuation missions involving four patients demonstrated the Vietnamese peacekeepers' ability to organize resources, coordinate effectively, and maintain their sense of responsibility during the final days of their deployment in South Sudan.
The returning personnel were welcomed back with emotional reunions at the airport. Families, relatives, and friends greeted them with handshakes, warm embraces, and joy at being together again after a long separation. The Vietnamese government and the public have been supportive of the peacekeeping mission, and the return of the personnel was met with relief and happiness.
The successful deployment of Level 2 Field Hospital No. 7 and the smooth handover to Level 2 Field Hospital No. 8 demonstrate Vietnam's commitment to peacekeeping and its ability to contribute to international efforts to maintain peace and stability. The experience gained by the Vietnamese personnel will be valuable in future peacekeeping missions, and their contributions have been recognized by the international community.
Key points
- The 12 Vietnamese peacekeeping medics completed their duties with the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) and returned home on October 10.
- The personnel played a crucial role in the handover process to Level 2 Field Hospital No. 8, ensuring continuity of the mission.
- The hospital maintained its full operational capacity despite reduced staffing, and the personnel responded to unexpected assignments during their final days of deployment.
