Cambodia will send a detachment of 216 peacekeepers to the United Nations stabilisation mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA), the Information Ministry has said.

The Kingdom already sent a delivery of tanks, trucks and other materiel there on Friday.

“After the arrival of the supplies in the Central African Republic, we will be sending 216 peacekeeping forces, nine of them female, to the country to be part of the mission there,” said Sem Sovanny, director-general of the National Centre for Peacekeeping Forces, Mine and Explosive Remnants of War Clearance.

According to the UN, MINUSCA was established in April “with the protection of civilians as its utmost priority” as violent conflict between CAR’s Christians and Muslims wore on.

Cambodian peacekeepers are also stationed in Mali, where they help with demining and airport maintenance.

Recently, however, two died of food poisoning and another two were injured after driving over a landmine.