By Zhao Lingran, Song Beibei and Xu Junqiang
Beijing, Dec. 11 -- The second batch of members of the third Chinese Peacekeeping Military Utility Helicopter Unit to United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) recently left for home. The first batch of them had returned home a week ago. By far, more than 100 peacekeepers of this unit had all come back, wrapping up their one-year-long peacekeeping mission.
The third Chinese Peacekeeping Military Utility Helicopter Unit to UNISFA was formed mainly from a brigade under the Chinese PLA 83rd Group Army. As the only military aviation power of the UNISFA, the unit had navigated a total mileage of more than 180,000 kilometers, and completed more than 1,911 tasks during the 12 months, including providing charter flights, emergency medical evacuation, air search and cargo delivery, transporting 17,000 people and more than 300 tons of cargo. All the members were awarded the UN Peace Medal of Honor.
Before their departure, Commander of UNISFA Major General Benjamin Olufemi Sawyerr led several senior officials and representatives of the troop-contributing countries to see them off at the airport.
It is learned that the 4th Chinese Peacekeeping Military Utility Helicopter Unit to UNISFA had arrived at the UNISFA barracks in Abyei on November 23.
