Over 1,000 Indian peacekeepers, including five female Army personnel, have been honoured with UN medals for their exemplary service in the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS).

Taking to Twitter, the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) on Thursday said, "Take a bow, #India. Exactly 1,171 of your finest sons and daughters have received UN medals for their vital UNMISS work in Upper Nile, South Sudan."

What makes this year’s medal award ceremony for Indian peacekeepers even more special is that for the first time, the parade of this large contingent was led by a woman, Major Jasmine Chattha.

“It has been an honour to represent my regiment on this special day. By positioning women as leaders, we are sending a strong message to the citizens of South Sudan in general and its women in particular. In our work, for example, when we repair roads or try to mitigate floods, we are in contact with the local population and they can see that we, women, are leading a team and we are both respected and listened to,” she was quoted as saying by UNMISS in a press release.

According to the UN, the Indian contingent serving with the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) may be best known for its efforts to build and repair critical infrastructure, but protecting civilians is of course also a vital and sometimes dangerous part of their mandate.

Deadly violence in Adhidiang and Kodok, where some 11,000 displaced persons are still gathered adjacent to a UNMISS military base, has caused untold suffering and injuries.

Since September last year, Indian medical staff has performed critical emergency surgeries that have saved the lives of five children.

Image courtesy: Twitter