scot47

Daughter-in-law has just been posted as part of the Zambian Contingent to UN Peacekeeping Duties in The Central African Republic. Mixed feelings on my part. Her son, my grandson is very agitated about this and thinks it could be dangerous. Any thoughts out there ?

tooboocoo

The CAR is in a pretty dire state. In these situations, any external armed force is bound to be unpopular with at least some of the players involved. Furthermore, UN forces in this and similar African dust-ups have often not covered themselves in glory in terms of treating local populations well. I would say it could be quite risky to be a woman soldier in such an environment.

scot47

UNOCI 1 UNMIT 2 UNMIS 3 UNMIL 1 UNIOSIL 1 UNAVEM 7 UNAMSIL 34 UNAMIR 3 UNAMID 6 UNAMI 1 UN Secretariat 1 ONUMOZ 13 MONUC 1 MONUA 3 MINUSCA 4

Published fatalities of Zambian Blue Helmets. Sierra Leone is high but not C.A.R. (MINUSCA)

The acronyms are UN-speak for the different missions in which The Blue Helmets are involved. https://peacekeeping.un.org/en/military

carcajou

The times I have been around them, I would not say it was particularly risky for that context. Any time you are in an unstable environment stuff can hit the fan but it really depends on what the job is that the person is doing. "UN peacekeeper" is pretty nebulous and can mean anything.

I, personally, would not be too worried. They aren't on their own there.

scot47

I have been talking to her son who is concerned. I try to reassure him that it will be okay.

scot47

Alarming reading on the pages of Wikipedia about the security situation.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MISCA

scot47

https://peacekeeping.un.org/en/mission/minusca

Daughter-in-law will be there shortly. Her son, one of my grandchildren, is alarmed.

scot47

All on hold now because of the virus. Has someone told the insurgents in CAR to observe the Lockdown until the virus is fixed ?

scot47

Daughter-in-law expects to head off soon. I will post any news that I hear.

scot47

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean-B...t-_ZfMQ2W6E4-o

I had forgotten about the horror stories. The good news is that Zamnbia and other African countries contribute tro "Peacekeeping" ( a euphemism ?) Daughter-in-law resumes training prior to deployment. I suggested she take steps to learn one of the local languages. i suspect that Lingala is not used that far North.

scot47

She arrived today. I have been alarmed at reading some of the advice form The US State Department to US citizens travelling in that area

It is some comfort that my d-in-law is not an American.