Chinese peacekeeper Yang Huanhuan will never forget the note she left for a mother in the Democratic Republic of Congo written in Swahili: "Florence, don't cry, be strong! We stand with you!"

Yang served as a military observer in the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the DR Congo from 2018 to 2019. She was also among the first female military observers sent by China.

During her frequent patrols, she met Florence, a single mother of three, whose house had been destroyed in a fire.

Florence's plight deeply saddened Yang, so she gave her $50 along with the note, placed in an envelope. She also gave the mother clothes and shoes, in the hope of cheering her up.

"The $50 was the equivalent of Florence's monthly salary," said Yang, who is now a PhD student at the Nanjing campus of the National University of Defense Technology.

To Yang's relief, Florence, who had no mobile phone and couldn't speak English, managed to send a message through someone, saying that she had rebuilt her home to start a new life and would never forget the help of the Chinese military observer. The story was featured in an article published on the UN's peacekeeping website.

Like Yang, Wu Feng, 42, an instructor at the Shijiazhuang campus of the Army Engineering University of the People's Liberation Army, also had unforgettable experiences as a military observer with a UN Mission in South Sudan from 2019 to 2020.

"As a peacekeeper, the role of a military observer is often romanticized by the public. But in reality, the work is full of thrills and challenges," he said, noting that UN missions set high standards for military observers.

"The main duties of military observers include observation, investigation, verification, liaison and reporting, and they also assist NGOs in humanitarian aid," he said.

During missions, observers must strictly adhere to impartiality, carry no weapons and operate independently, not as part of any peacekeeping unit, he added.

"Observers are both faithful recorders of conflicts and crucial promoters of peace processes," Wu said while pointing out an observer's work is highly demanding, requiring 24/7 readiness and vigilance.

His observer team conducted daily patrols in Wau, South Sudan, with two to four short-duration patrols every week covering 50 to 200 kilometers, and two to three long-duration patrols monthly, lasting six to seven days with field camping.

Observers also undertook monthly helicopter patrols, two to four convoy escort missions and accompanied engineering units for road surveys, he said.