China’s first peacekeeping helicopter detachment concluded the transport of soldiers and cargos of the Senegalese peacekeeping in-fantry battalion affiliated to the Sector North of the African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID) on March 4.

A helicopter of China’s first peacekeeping helicopter detachment. (Photo from the PLA’s official website, 81.cn)

It is reported that the Chinese helicopters, to conduct the mission for troop rotation, shall fly over the rebel-controlled areas in South Su-dan, where UN peacekeeping helicopters were once attacked. The Chinese helicopters of the detachment flew nearly 150 hours, trans-porting about 40 tons of cargos and 800 Senegalese peacekeepers in total.

China has grown into the largest source of peacekeeping personnel among the permanent members of the UN Security Council and the second largest contributor to the UN peacekeeping budget since join-ing UN peacekeeping operations in 1990.

Helicopters usually play a significant role in various peacekeeping operations because of its quick transit of personnel at lower risks than conventional transport vehicles.

A pilot of the Chinese peacekeeping helicopter detachment is in peacekeeping operation. (Photo by the Chinese peacekeeping heli-copter detachment)

A helicopter of China’s first peacekeeping helicopter detachment arrives in Khartoum, capital of Sudan. (By Li Yida from People’s Daily)

China’s first peacekeeping helicopter detachment holds oath-taking rally. (Photo from the PLA’s official website, 81.cn)

Chinese peacekeepers prepare for the flight. (Photo by the Chi-nese peacekeeping helicopter detachment)