Tian Bihai, deputy chief of staff of the Water Supply Regiment of the Beijing Military Area Command (MAC) that was shouldering the water source searching task in Darfur, Sudan, sent a transoceanic message to the reporter on the afternoon of July 19: “We have already successfully drilled 4 standard water supply wells and is now drilling the 5th one.” This symbolized the water supply squadron of the Chinese peacekeeping engineering detachment to Darfur, Sudan had created a miracle of drilling water supply wells in extremely water-shortage area.

    Sudan is a country where the water is extremely scarce and to scramble water source is an important reason for the lasting turmoil. After reconnaissance, western geologist ever asserted that there’s no underground water in northern Daufur. The main task of the peacekeeping officers and men of the water supply regiment of the Beijing MAC is to explore the water sources and construct water-supply well to tackle the living water shortage of the peacekeeping troops and police in Darfur. On the morning of last October 16, a spring was created from the igneous rock. This symbolized that the Chinese water supply regiment has broken a path for self supply of water for the UN peacekeeping troops and created a record of searching water source and drilling well abroad by the Chinese PLA engineer troops.

    (Photo by Nie Haijun)

    By Guo Jianyue and Zou Weirong