Nepal honours its 76 fallen peacekeepers

Nepal yesterday honoured its 76 peacekeeping personnel who sacrificed their lives to protect world peace under the flag of the United Nations. A UN Peacekeepers’ memorial plaque was unveiled at the UN Office in Kathmandu marking International Day of Peace. Minister for Health Giriraj Mani Pokharel was the chief guest at the function attended by chiefs of security agencies and heads of diplomatic missions based in the Nepali capital. Since 1948, when the UN deployed peacekeeping forces around the world, 76 Nepalese peacekeepers have lost their lives, said UN resident co-ordinator Valerie Julliand. Altogether, 3,500 peacekeepers from various nations sacrificed their lives worldwide, she said. “Today we remember and honour the uniformed personnel, civilian peacekeepers such as international civil servants, national staff members and the UN volunteers who have fallen,” she observed. “Our missions would not function without their bravery, integrity, as well as endurance of their family members towards the endeavours of their loved ones,” she added. Currently, 5,202 Nepali security personnel are deployed on different peacekeeping missions around the world.