Cambodia sends 7th batch of troops to Lebanon for peacekeeping mission

Cambodia sent the seventh batch of 184 peacekeepers to Lebanon on Wednesday to replace the sixth group, whose one-year United Nations peacekeeping mission in the country has come to an end.

The military engineering group, including 16 females, would work on landmine clearance and construction of roads, bridges, shelters and barracks, said Gen. Pol Saroeun, Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces.

"This event once again reflects Cambodia's active contribution to maintaining peace, security and stability in the world," he said during the departure ceremony at the Phnom Penh Military Airbase.

He advised the peacekeepers to strictly respect Lebanon's independence and sovereignty and to work hard in order to achieve the humanitarian mission.

Alexandre Huynh, coordinator of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) to Cambodia, hailed Cambodia for supporting the UN peacekeeping operations, saying that the country's contribution was a role model to the world.

"Your dedication to helping others, sharing your skills with other countries that are suffering from conflict, will be precious and a source of hope and inspiration to many," he said.

He said since 2006, the Southeast Asian country has provided a total of 4,180 troops, including 151 females, to participate in the UN peacekeeping operations in Sudan, South Sudan, Chad, Central African Republic, Lebanon, Mali, Syria and Cyprus.