The hand-over of security responsibilities by UNMIL to Liberian authorities, as the Mission progressively scales down its operations in the country would be “a slow and gradual process that has been carefully planned and prepared,” Special Representative of the Secretary-General Karin Landgren reaffirmed while presiding at a Medal Parade for the Indian Formed Police Unit (FPU2) deployed in the Counties of Grand Gedeh and Maryland.

“The aim is to drawdown in such a way that Liberia’s security is maintained,” Landgren explained at the Medal Parade in the southeastern Liberian town of Zwedru on 12 March.

UNMIL’s drawdown began last October when the Mission turned over its facilities in Robertsport, Grand Cape Mount County, to the Liberian authorities. Two months later, UNMIL facilities in Foya, Lofa County, were also handed over to the local authorities.

“The next step is the handover of the UNMIL facility at Loguatuo to the authorities in Nimba County,” Landgren disclosed. Stressing that UNMIL was not leaving Liberia, she said the Mission would stay on and continue to help with building the capacity of the country’s security agencies.

At the Medal Parade in Zwedru, some 120 officers of the Indian FPU2 were awarded UN medals acknowledging their contribution to peace and stability in Liberia.

The UN envoy praised the Indian Peacekeepers and their Commander, Col. Lal Chand Yadav for reaching beyond the call of duty to provide the local communities with humanitarian assistance, particularly healthcare.

She recalled that at one instance more than 800 patients received free consultations and treatment when doctors and nurses from the Indian FPU2 clinic organized a medical camp in the small town of Tuzon, some 20 km northeast of Zwedru. “These, and your other humanitarian activities, are a testament to your thoughtfulness and dedication to help those in need,” Landgren said.

She also seized the occasion to stress the UN code of conduct and the Secretary-General’s zero tolerance policy on sexual exploitation and abuse. “It is of the utmost importance that only individuals with the highest standards of integrity serve with the United Nations, both civilian and in uniform,” Landgren emphasized.

During her day-long visit to Zwedru, Landgren also met with County Superintendent Peter L. Solo and a large gathering of traditional leaders.

The parade was attended by local county officials and UNMIL’s senior leadership including the Force Commander, Maj.-Gen. Leonard Muriuki Ngondi, UN Police Commissioner John Nielsen, and UNMIL’s Director of Mission Support, Hubert Price.