Chinese peacekeeper helps protect a nation's health

Settling in

Liao said she spent more than a month getting used to the conditions when she arrived in South Sudan.

In the beginning, she and three female colleagues lived in a converted shipping container with no running water or toilet. The harsh conditions, coupled with the fatigue from her travel and a new environment, resulted in her developing a fever and cough and skin blisters.

After several months she moved to a more secure brick dormitory.

Liao usually works from 8 am to 5 pm. Here schedule means she has no time to cook and she often eats leftovers.

When she first arrived she tried to buy food from the local market, but the choices were limited and she ate cookies and pasta every day. Liao said the monotonous diet and poor quality of the food made her sick for a while.

Residents' hygiene awareness is poor, despite the pandemic. They rarely wear masks or disinfect their hands when dealing with food, which made Liao fearful, especially after she learned from reports that COVID-19 can be transmitted from some food surfaces.

"Sometimes, I feel Chinese instant noodles are the most delicious food in the world. A colleague once brought me some Chongqing hotpot ingredients, and the taste filled me with happiness," she said.

But her new environment has also had a positive impact on Liao, broadening her horizons and allowing her to be more confident dealing with challenges.

She said although she is a logistics officer, she has tried to do as much as she can to help local women and children. She also chats with poor people and offers assistance in order to promote the peace process.