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MONUC peacekeepers from the Bangladesh Airforce (BANAIR) contingent continued their support for the Baraka Academy in Bunia this week by donating a manual roller machine to extract juice from sugarcane. The juice will be converted to molasses for use as a sweetener in drinks, cakes, pastries, and other confections for sale in local marketplaces.
The machine is the first of its kind in Ituri and has sufficient capacity to extract 40 litres of juice for the production of 5 to 6 kilos of molasses a day.
Ituri province is a producer of good quality sugarcane and it is hoped the machine will be used to raise funds for the Academy which has more than 1,000 students aged between three and 14 years. Most of the students are orphans.
Previous support to the Baraka Academy from the Bangladeshi contingent includes : the renovation of classrooms, a water well, pump, generator and water storage area, together with a dispensary for students and community members, and a medical ward with a few beds for those needing additional care. BANAIR peacekeepers have also helped train older boys in farming, and have provided them with agricultural tools to enable self-sufficiency in vegetable and fruit production.
Other humanitarian contributions by the Bangladeshi contingent in Bunia included medical and food assistance to 122 sick prisoners on 25 March. The medical team of the Bangladeshi battalion treated prisoners for malaria, respiratory infections and malnutrition. Of those treated, about 60 per cent were male, 25 per cent female and 10 per cent children. The remaining 5 per cent were members of the prison staff and security service.
The wide ranging contributions of Bangladeshi peacekeepers to MONUC and to the Congolese people, was recognized on 30 March when a joint medals parade for their battalions in Bunia and Mahagi honored 1,965 blue helmets. MONUC Force Commander, General Babacar Gaye, Ituri Brigade Commander Brigadier Ziaul Hasan, MONUC Ituri Office Director, Madam Olamide Adedeji and Contingent Commanders, presented the UN medals.
When addressing the troops this week, General Gaye noted that Bangladesh is the second largest troop contributor to United Nations Peacekeeping globally, after Pakistan.