Last week I flew into Abyei then out to Agok on a patrol to a Temporary Operating Base (TOB) with one of the two Canadians posted to the area. Kirk and I spent three days in the community working along side the local police assisting them with any questions they had in relation to investigations or processes. The work was great. Not to mention the learning we did thanks to the local police. Below you can see the white UN tent at the TOB which was our home. The first day was dry and it was just plain hot dusty and busy. The next day it rained.
The TOB and the countryside went from a dust bowl to a swamp in a blink! The Security Platoon of Zambians was great with us and had a good laugh at our expense watching us try and move about in the mud as it stuck to your boots and made them weigh about 10 lbs a piece. I had never met any people from Zambia until now. Their police and military people are a good crew. They are cheerful, resourceful and pleasant to work alongside.
I wonder if Sheryl would go for a transfer there...? Kirk and I 'co-located' with the local police in their area as they did their daily business on the second day of our patrol. I have a lot of respect for these officers as although they are Sudanese Nationals they are not from that particular community. Just like the OPP they are recruited and then sent to a specific that requires members. These men live at the police station separated by many miles from their families.
Don,
ReplyDeleteThis stuff is great - keep blogging. Good thing you are a camper as your accommodations look like they would rate in the questionable star rating that we Westerners are accustomed to!
Stay safe,dry and dust-free.
Sarah
Great to see you still have the smile. I know you said the near beer was great. I could not help but wonder if the guys in the background were filling up your "near beer" supply before you took off in the helicopter; hence the smile. (Zoom in on guys behind you in first picture. BTW, had a real beer for you tonight.
ReplyDeleteIvan