By Ding Wendong and Zhao Wenhuan

BEIRUT, Sept. 18 -- After three consecutive days of assessment, the 19th Chinese peacekeeping multi-functional engineer contingent to Lebanon passed the qualification certification by the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) on September 16.

This is the first time that the Chinese peacekeeping engineers have obtained both military and humanitarian mine-clearing qualifications at one time since China began to send troops to Lebanon for UN peacekeeping missions in 2006.

Before pocketing the mine-clearing qualification certification, the Chinese peacekeepers passed more than 30 examinations in 13 subjects of 2 specialties, i.e., mine clearance and explosive ordnance disposal (EOD), mainly including mine detector debugging, signal source positioning, mine excavation, minefield rescue, mine disposal, and unexploded ordnance disposal.

After three consecutive days of assessment from September 14 to 16, 53 sappers, together with 11 medical personnel of the 19th Chinese peacekeeping multi-functional engineer contingent all passed the assessment and obtained two qualifications of both military and humanitarian mine clearance awarded by the UNMAS.

Zeina Saleh, superviser from the United Nations Mine Action Service said after the assessment, “The Chinese mine-clearing engineers are excellent characterized by super execution and learning capabilities.”

Successfully passing the assessment and obtaining certification mark the official start of the contingent to carry out mine clearance and EOD operations near the Blue Line between Israel and Lebanon.