Peacekeepers from China and Bangladesh exchange views on the construction site. (Photo by Liu Xiaoshuai)
GAO, MALI, Mar. 29 (ChinaMil) -- On March 29, local time, after 18 days of concerted and cooperative efforts, the 6th Chinese peacekeeping engineer contingent to Mali and the Bangladesh peacekeeping infantry battalion jointly completed the restoration task of a 1,500 meters blocking trench, which is located at the west and north of Super Camp of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) in Gao.
According to the mission requirements, the Chinese peacekeeping engineer contingent was responsible for excavating a blocking trench with a total length of 1500m, a width of 4m, and a depth of 2.5m, as well as constructing a blocking wall on the outer side. The Bangladesh peacekeeping infantry battalion was in charge of guarding the perimeter of the construction site.
At present, the temperature in Gao area continues to rise. The construction area is dry and dusty, with daytime temperature reaching near 44℃. Despite these difficulties and obstacles, Chinese peacekeepers worked an average of 8 hours a day, with a total of 380 personnel and 197 construction equipment units deployed, and successfully completed the repairing task.
It’s reported that during the construction period, the engineering troops, based on relevant regulations, have also successfully handled an incident of unidentified drone approaching the construction area. In order to prevent detection or attack by the enemy, the security personnel successfully drove the drone away and retained the live image data. The Sector East of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) has fully affirmed the way how the Chinese peacekeepers handled the incident.
The completion of the blocking trench restoration will significantly improve the level of perimeter defense warning for the MINUSMA. Chief civil officer at the Sector East of the MINUMA praised the work done by the Chinese peacekeeping engineer contingent. He said: “The Chinese engineers are hard-working professionals who show courage when dealing with difficulties and danger. Their high professional accomplishment should be learnt by other peacekeeping forces.”