They will leave loved ones behind to serve a global cause

Kumari,who hails from Chandigarh,has served in the unit for about eight years. “I volunteered to go to Liberia. It is a good opportunity,” she says,adding,“The money is also good.”

As part of the UN’s requisition for the FFPU,the fifth batch will replace the fourth,which has already been deployed. Apart from the female contingent,a male contingent has also been deployed in the African country. India,which sent its first FFPU to Liberia in 2007,is one among the many counties that has a contingent in the country. UN has a peacekeeping mission in Liberia — the UNMIL (United Nations Mission in Liberia). The civil war in the country has claimed the lives of about 250,000 people.

The girls,most of them upbeat about their new assignment in the African country,were briefed on the political situation in Liberia. Says 25-year-old Vimal Kumari,“We were told about the local people there. We have to be nice to them.”

FFPU Contingent Commander Poonam Gupta told Newsline,“The batch was given training in handling the human rights situation in the country. Apart from brushing up on the physical fitness front,they were also taught to handle weapons and equipment. The contingent was also familirised with the UNMIL,the scenario in Liberia,the history and culture of the country. We showed them footage from the country.”

The female contingent was trained for seven weeks for the assignment.

The presidential elections of Liberia are due in October,and that could be a “dicey period”,Gupta said.