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.