7 June 2012 - The Thai battalion has completed this week its service with the African Union – United Nations Mission in Darfur (UNAMID), after 18 months in Mukjar, Central Darfur, where its peacekeepers have served and also implemented several projects for the community.

Thai Doctor Liutenant Vittaya Jiraanankul examines a sick children in Buru in March 2010. Photo by Albert González Farran 

The Thai soldiers have built three boreholes that provide water for approximately 3,000 people in Mukjar and Forobaranga villages. Also, they improved roads and offered training for the local population. As one example of their close involvement with the community, the departing peacekeepers trained Darfuris to construct houses using mud bricks made from local materials. The method is said to be more environmentally friendly, lower cost and easier to implement than competing building approaches.

As another example, they introduced the New Theory of Agriculture, which was developed in Thailand. The skills training included comprehensive guidelines for efficiently managing land and water resources to create optimum benefits for communities of different sizes. In addition to offering ways to use microorganisms derived from existing materials as natural fertilizers instead of using chemicals, the theory outlines a complete production system designed to help farmers, and their communities, become more self-reliant.

The Thai Battalion Commanding Officer, Col. Narongrit Panigabutr, expressed the gratitude of the Thai peacekeepers to the people of Sudan, and especially the people of Mukjar, for their warm hospitality and support. “The value of your kindness and sincerity will be kept in our memories forever,” he said.

He added that the good relationship the battalion maintained with local people and authorities led to effective cooperation and coordination and allowed the peacekeepers to perform their duty smoothly.

The first 812 Thai soldiers came to Darfur on 4 December 2010. They rotated on 19 August 2011. All the remaining Thai peacekeepers are expected to have cycled out by 9 June 2012.