Kathmandu, May 28. As a part of the annual commemoration of the International Day of UN Peacekeepers (May 29), the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres laid flowers to honor 4,077 blue helmets who lost their lives since 1948.

In the virtual ceremony organized on Thursday, the intergovernmental body gave Dag Hammarskjold Medal to 129 peacekeepers who died between January 2020 to January 2021.

Issuing an official statement, Secretary-General Guterres said, “Our fallen peacekeepers, uniformed and civilian, lost their lives due to malicious acts, in accidents and as a result of illness, including COVID-19. They came from 44 different countries and diverse backgrounds but were united by a common purpose: to serve our great organization, promote peace and security and improve the lives of some of the world’s most vulnerable people.”

“We are forever in their debt. I offer my sincere condolences to their families and friends and I hope that the medals presented today offer some comfort. Their ultimate sacrifice will not be forgotten, and they will always be in our hearts.” he added.

Data

So far, the United Nations have operated 71 peacekeeping missions since 1948. Nepali army first participated in peacekeeping operations in 1958. Since then, more than 1 lakh 35 thousand Nepali army personnel have served in 43 missions around the globe.

At present, 87,889 blue helmets are serving in 12 peacekeeping operations out of which, 5,136 are from the Nepali Army,  330 from Nepali Armed Police Force, and 212 from Nepal Police.

According to the Nepali Army database, 68 of its members lost their lives and 66 lost their appendages while in peacekeeping missions.