PLA engineers in South Sudan amidst flames of war(2)

"We have to be armed to the teeth even if we fight mosquitoes."

The operation unit began to perform such tasks as dismantling the barrack-like temporary rooms and clearing the site the next day after arrival.

The Raga base is a mature one. Seven batches of peacekeepers have constructed and improved it in succession since it was put into operation more than six years ago, which makes it more difficult to dismantle now.

In addition, the peacekeepers were faced with numerous difficulties due to such factors as serious shortage of provisions and poor accommodation conditions.

For the dismantling work, the officers and men maintained the speed of dismantling and packing six barrack-like temporary rooms everyday at the high temperature of more than 40 degrees centigrade.

Despite their high efficiency, quite some Chinese engineers have been attacked by heatstroke or diarrhea due to hot weather and improper diet.

December is the "winter" for the local region, with sharp temperature differences between day and night. In the daytime, it is too hot to endure, but at night, the temperature drops to 8 degrees centigrade. A good many of peacekeepers have developed fever and caught cold as a result.

The Raga base was going to be shut down, "disinfection and deinsectization" were insufficient, and mosquitoes began to be rampant. Therefore, the officers and men had to carry the mosquito-repellent incense with them while going to toilet, put on the mosquito hood while standing guard, go to sleep without undressing, and always carry the mosquito-repellent cream with them.

Li Jianguang, leader of the logistics group, joked: "We have to be armed to the teeth even if we fight mosquitoes."

"I am not taking a trailer, but a roller coaster."

The operation unit loaded the materials into containers, and the Wau base would send vehicles to carry them away at regular intervals.

For the officers and men who often spend their time on the road, each driving is an unforgettable one.

There is a relatively smooth section of road of about 20 kilometers if you start driving from the Raga base. "You will get the feeling of running like the wind." Sitting in a flat-bed trailer, the writer felt that the so-called "running like the wind" was nothing more than 25 kilometers per hour, and had lost his bearings as a result of bumping all the way.

Quite some people had developed slight illnesses due to bumping on the road. Many soldiers threw up because of carsickness. They were unable to swallow though they were very hungry at dinner time.

Chief Steward Qiao Wei did not find the blisters on his hips until he reached the destination and began to take a bath. While the vehicle was passing a shallow trench, the staff officer Li Mengchun hit the vehicle top all of a sudden due to bumping. It took quite a while for him to refresh his mind. Then he shouted, "My goodness! I am not taking a trailer, but a roller coaster!"

The distance between Raga and Wau is about 320 kilometers, and it takes at least 15 hours for a normal march. In case of vehicle breakdown, it sometimes takes 20 hours, and a night march is inevitable.

For now, all the tasks are almost done, and there is only one step away from success. When the officers and men look back, all sorts of hardships are still vivid in their minds, but what had impressed them most is not the hardship, but precious peace.

As Xing Wei, director of the Level-1 Hospital, put it, "While our vehicles are traveling, local people often wave to us, and the kids keep chasing after us excitedly. I think they are waving to peace, and pursuing peace. I am full of strength each time I see such a scene."