India's female squad to soon assume duties under UN peacekeeping missions in Congo

India's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Syed Akbaruddin on Thursday said that Indian women who are contingents to the United Nations' peacekeeping operations will soon be assuming their duties in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

"India's Female Engagement Team deployed in @UNPeacekeeping is on way to assume duties @MONUSCO (Democratic Republic of Congo)," Akbaruddin wrote on Twitter.

The envoy captioned the post saying, "Women Peace & Security in action."

The United Nations Organisation Stabilisation Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo or MONUSCO is a United Nations peacekeeping force that was established by the United Nations Security Council in accordance to the resolutions 1279 and 1291 to monitor peace in Congo.

India has a long tradition of sending women to UN peacekeeping missions, said a recent statement issued by the United Nations named "India: A long and deep tradition of contributing to UN peacekeeping".

In 2007, India became the first country to deploy an all-women contingent to a UN peacekeeping mission. Indian peacekeepers have served in UN peacekeeping missions by protecting civilians and support peace processes, and also carry out specialist tasks.

Indian doctors provide medical care to the local population in missions around the world, including in Congo.

"Currently, there are more than 6,700 troops and police from India who have been deployed to UN peacekeeping missions, the fourth highest amongst troop-contributing countries," the statement read.

"More than 160 Indian peacekeepers have paid the ultimate price in service to peace, losing their lives serving under the UN flag," it added.