Health officials reported today (8 July), that the Mongolian Defence Ministry has begun working to repatriate its peacekeepers from Afghanistan. According to some unofficial sources, up to 50 Mongolian soldiers, serving in Afghanistan have been confirmed having coronavirus. However, the officials declined to give information regarding the peacekeepers’ health on military secrecy grounds.

Afghanistan has suffered badly from COVID-19 due to its weak healthcare system and the ongoing conflict. Initially, the virus entered the country from Iran.

Mongolia became one of the contributors to the United Nations Peacekeeping Mission in 2002 by sending its first troops. Since then, more than 18,000 peacekeepers from Mongolia have undertaken security missions in the world’s conflict zones. Currently, over 1100 Mongolian soldiers are successfully and honourably fulfilling their duty of peacekeeping.