It is our Ukrainian soldiers who have to stew in exotic Africa, both literally and figuratively, as part of the UN mission carrying out peacekeeping tasks in distant Sierra Leone. In total, 15.716 people are currently working in this diamond-bearing country under the UN blue flag. These are soldiers from Ghana, Nigeria, Nepal, Pakistan, Kenya, Bangladesh, Guinea, Zambia, Ukraine and Russia. The largest contingent is from Bangladesh (3.887 people) and Pakistan (3.835 people). Russia has sent the smallest - 109 servicemen of a helicopter unit.
Ukraine, which sent its peacekeepers to the Black Continent back at the end of 2000, has 634 people "under arms" here. These are the 4th separate repair and restoration battalion and the 20th separate helicopter unit (Mi-8MT helicopters).
Over the past nine months, the Ukrainian battalion has taken part in three large-scale and long-term humanitarian operations on the border with neighboring Liberia, which is at war with Sierra Leone. Our guys transported refugees and displaced persons away from the conflict zone. For frightened people who, fleeing, carried with them everything they had managed to grab, 14 field and transit camps were specially equipped. To imagine the scale of these operations, which were carried out almost continuously, it is enough to say that more than 15 thousand people and about 700 tons of various cargo were transported. Almost in parallel, the Ukrainians, using their own transport, ensured the rotation of personnel from other contingents. This is more than 8 thousand military personnel with their 787 tons of cargo.
Since March of this year, due to the reduction of some rear units, the mission leadership has assigned the Ukrainian battalion tasks for transporting various fuels and lubricants for its colleagues from other contingents. Moreover, they have to travel distances of up to 480 kilometers.
In addition to the main tasks of the UN mission, our military also carry out unscheduled humanitarian actions. For example, together with comrades from Germany, a joint project was conceived and launched to build a primary school for children in the village of Ro-Bonga. By agreement, the German side took on the financial burden, while the overall logistics and construction of the school building fell on the shoulders of the Ukrainians. The so-called commissioning of the facility is planned for the celebration of the country's Constitution Day, which is celebrated on April 27.
Literacy among the population of Sierra Leone has always been low. The main task of local children is to earn or beg something somewhere in order to survive. Thanks to the introduction of peacekeepers into the country, the lives of many Sierra Leoneans have become less difficult. But not by much. Both adults and young residents earn their food in a variety of ways. It is not uncommon in these places to see a black woman of uncertain age with a baby tied on her back swinging a pickaxe on a par with men, breaking piles of stone into small crushed stone. There is no standard for workers. How much you hammered out - that's how much you'll be paid. For example, for one cubic meter of crushed stone, they can pay from $1 to $5. In general, prices here are very floating and there are no clear tariffs for a particular product or service. The exception is the UN mission, which pays people hired under contract honestly and stably.
The natives living near the camps of the Ukrainian contingent feel the same stability. These are in Lungi and Hastings. They know that Ukrainian soldiers will never offend them and will always come to their aid. Therefore, it is not surprising that many dark-skinned people, with an accent, can speak both Russian and Ukrainian. The command of the Ukrainian peacekeepers even allowed a local trading magnate named Ibrahim to open a small shop on the territory of the camp. By the way, this same Ibrahim, on the eve of the New Year, especially for the Ukrainians, in order to strengthen trust in himself, donated a black goat ("Zagranitsa" wrote about this in No. 2-3. - Ed. note).
Feeling at home in Africa is quite difficult. Especially if you are a European. However, you always want to create some semblance of familiar conditions and put your hands to it. If you enter a Ukrainian camp, you will certainly feel some surprise. There is a little vegetable garden near almost every 'keremek' (residential trailer). The caring hands of the peacekeepers line them with large stones, dividing them into beds with small ones. Even under the scorching African sun, the vegetation in the gardens feels very comfortable. All the water that flows in a continuous stream from air conditioners (about 20 liters of distilled water is poured out per day) is directed along rows and holes. In general, the irrigation system is set up wisely. They grow everything local and brought with them. There are tomatoes, cucumbers, sunflowers, banana bushes, coconut palms, and simply very beautiful flowers.
On weekends, and especially on holidays, the brass band of the Ukrainian peacekeepers always lifts the spirits of the guys and invited guests from other countries. Under the African sky, Ukrainian national music, old waltzes, romances, and military marches are played. The natives are especially happy when jazz compositions are played. Even being behind the 'barbed wire' on the outside of the camp, they manage to stage mass dance performances. But when the orchestra plays especially for them near schools or simply in villages, it is akin to a national holiday. Hundreds of people, most of whom are children, go simply crazy at the sounds of a military orchestra. For this, the local chiefs are very grateful to the Ukrainians and in every possible way show their favor and devotion to the friendly Ukrainian people.
One of the pressing problems for Ukrainians in Africa is the very small number of Orthodox churches. In particular, near the settlements of Hastings and Lungi, where Ukrainian peacekeeping units are located, there are none at all. The fact is that the majority of Sierra Leone's population (about 65%) is of the Muslim faith, the rest is divided between adherents of traditional local religions and a small number of Roman Catholics. Therefore, at Christmas, for example, the Ukrbat had pre-purchased church candles, and eggs were ordered from Holland. Our guys are also preparing seriously for Easter. The cooks will traditionally bake Easter cakes and paint eggs, but unfortunately, they will not be able to consecrate them in church. But the holiday, as people say, will take place in any weather, even in distant and hot Africa.
Андрей ЛЫСЕНКО.
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