The theme of World Environment Day 2025, “Restoring Nature for a Sustainable Future,” emphasises the importance of ecosystem protection, pollution reduction, and effective waste management, especially plastic waste management, which remains a pressing environmental issue in many countries.
In this spirit, the UNISFA Mission launched a widespread campaign involving international military and civilian personnel, including peacekeepers from various nations. Viet Nam’s Engineering Unit Rotation 3 was an active participant in these efforts.
The series of activities began in early June with environmental sanitation campaigns and plastic waste collection in Mul Mul Market—an area known for its high population density and significant levels of household waste.
On June 5, a formal meeting to mark World Environment Day was held at the UNISFA headquarters. At the event, a mission leader stated: “Every small action we take today determines the shape of our planet tomorrow. We commend and greatly appreciate the ongoing contributions of peacekeepers—not only for maintaining security but also for preserving our shared ecosystem.”
Immediately following the meeting was a march for the environment, combined with litter collection and tree planting along the main roads of the mission compound. Hundreds of international staff and personnel enthusiastically participated, creating a strong image of unity and shared global responsibility for environmental protection.
In these efforts, the Vietnamese peacekeeping unit not only played an active role but also led several initiatives. The unit mobilised personnel into specialised teams responsible for coordinating with the mission as well as internal operations such as waste collection, public awareness campaigns, tree planting, and transporting plastic waste to proper disposal sites.
In addition to World Environment Day activities, Viet Nam’s Engineering Unit Rotation 3 has made significant contributions to improving local awareness and quality of life in Abyei.
Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Duy Nam, head of the logistics support team, affirmed: “Our activities for World Environment Day reflect the unit’s strong commitment not only to peacekeeping duties but also to the international community’s collective efforts in environmental protection. Despite the harsh climate, limited facilities, and low environmental awareness among the local population, coordinated efforts have brought about meaningful changes.”
According to the Vietnamese unit, building environmental awareness in communities can start with small and simple actions, such as an awareness session or a personal example of picking up litter. Through these specific, responsible, and creative activities, the Engineering Unit Rotation 3 not only demonstrates professionalism in peacekeeping but also stands as a symbol of Viet Nam’s image—committed to peace, environmental stewardship, and community engagement.
