COVID-19: Vaccination of Rwandan peacekeepers gets underway in South Sudan

Rwanda, on Wednesday, March 17, started vaccinating Police, military and Correctional contingents serving under the UN missions in South Sudan (UNMISS) and Abyei (UNISFA).

The first day of the vaccination focused on Rwandan peacekeepers operating in the capital Juba and those serving under Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA).

Among those, who received their first shot of the vaccine on the first day are 356 Rwandan Police officers, who include 319 constituting Formed Police Unit (FPU) I and II deployed in Juba, 18 Individual Police Officers (IPOs) as well as 19 serving in UNISFA.

Also vaccinated alongside Rwandan Police peacekeepers are 28 Police peacekeepers from other contributing countries as well as UN staff and a South Sudan Police officer, all who came voluntarily to get the first jab of the vaccine. 

The vaccination exercise will continue in other states in South Sudan where Rwandan peacekeepers are deployed.

The exercise started on Monday, March 15, with Rwandan peacekeepers serving under the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA),

There are 445 Rwandan Police peacekeepers deployed in MINUSCA, who include three contingents; two Formed Police Units (FPUs) and a Protection Support Unit (PSU), each composed of 140 peacekeepers.

Others serve as Individual Police Officers (IPOs). (End)