Global perspective Human stories

Pakistan played “critical role” in the success of UN Liberia Mission

Pakistan played “critical role” in the success of UN Liberia Mission

Intro:

Pakistani troops, police and other peacekeeping personnel have made a “major contribution” to the success of the UN’s long-running mission in Liberia (UNMIL), which will close at the end of March after successfully completing its mandate.

That’s according to Waldemar Vrey, a South African national who serves as deputy head of UNMIL, with responsibility for handling political and rule-of-law issues.

Mr. Vrey stressed that Pakistanis had served from the very beginning, in 2003, right up to the end, through the staff of the Pakistani Military Hospital who are on active duty today.

In all, around 20,000 Pakistanis have served in military and police contingents, 23 of whom lost their lives in Liberia.

The country endured two civil wars between 1989 and 2003, causing the deaths of almost 250,000 people – mostly civilians.

Mr. Vrey told UN News that Pakistanis had played a “significant role” in making the 2003 ceasefire a reality, disarming more than 100,000 former combatants during the first years of UNMIL.

Download

Pakistani troops, police and other peacekeeping personnel have made a “major contribution” to the success of the UN’s long-running Mission in Liberia (UNMIL), which will close at the end of March after successfully completing its mandate.

That’s according to Waldemar Vrey, a South African national who serves as deputy head of UNMIL, with responsibility for handling political and rule-of-law issues. He told Doug Coffman that Pakistanis had played a “significant role” throughout.

Audio Credit
Doug Coffman, UN News
Audio Duration
6'39"
Photo Credit
UNMIL/Staton Winter