Five Pakistani Peacekeepers Honoured With UN Medals Posthumously
Faizan Hashmi Published May 25, 2017 | 08:40 AM
UNITED NATIONS, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 25th May, 2017 ) : The United Nations has honoured at a solemn ceremony 117 military, police and civilian personnel from 43 countries, including five Pakistanis, who lost their lives while serving in peacekeeping operations during 2016.
Wednesday's ceremony marked the annual International Day of Peacekeepers during which the Dag Hammarskjold Medal was awarded posthumously to the peacekeepers who have given their lives for the cause of peace, during the preceding year.
"Every day, peacekeepers help bring peace and stability to war-torn societies around the world," UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told a large and distinguished gathering in remarks on the occasion.
The Acting Pakistan Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Nabeel Munir, accepted the awards on behalf of the families of fallen peacekeepers. The five Pakistanis peacekeepers are: Havildar Abdul Majeed Khan and Havildar Zishan Ahmed, who served with the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO ): Lt-Colonel Muhammad Ashraf, who served with the United Nations Operation in Ivory Coast (UNOCI); Naik Qaiser Abbas, who was deployed with the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA); and Ms.
Shabnam Khan who served in a civilian capacity with the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA). Pakistan is one of the largest contributors of military and police personnel to UN peacekeeping.
It currently deploys more than 7,100 uniformed personnel to the UN peace operations in the Central African Republic, Ivoy Coast, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Haiti, Liberia, South Sudan, Sudan and the Western Sahara.
The UN chief, who led a moment of silence to remember the fallen peacekeepers, expressed his "deepest condolences and appreciation" to the family members and friends of those who died, as well as his "deepest sorrow and greatest appreciation" to the countries that contributed the troops and police officers.
The UN chief warned that peacekeepers continue to come under attack from armed groups, spoilers and increasingly by terrorists, including incidents in Mali, the Central African Republic, and South Sudan.
"But the closure of our operations in Ivory Coast and Liberia over the coming months reminds us that the contributions, investments and sacrifices of our United Nations peacekeepers have contributed to the transformation of these countries from battlefields to peaceful states," he stressed.
"And the greatest tribute we can pay to those who have died is to rededicate ourselves to continuing their work to build and maintain peace," he said. "UN peacekeeping is one of the international community's most effective investments to support peace, security and prosperity.
" While peacekeeping carries a tragically high price in lives lost, it brings enormous returns in lives saved," Guterres said. "And if there is something that makes the United Nations known all over the world are Blue Helmets," he said.
"Our debt in relation to peacekeepers is something that we will never be able to repay." UN peacekeeping operations use the Day to strengthen bonds with the local populations that they have been deployed to serve.
For example by holding sporting events, school and orphanage visits, art and essay competitions, photo exhibits, neighbourhood clean ups, tree plantings, concerts, and conferences and workshops on peace issues.
Related Topics
Recent Stories
Rock-solid Ruud racks up season-leading win in Barcelona
At UN, Iran says it will make Israel 'regret' reprisals
G7 hears calls for 'critical' Ukraine aid
EU seeks to leverage might to confront China, US challenge
5 Customs officials martyred as their vehicle ambushed by terrorists in D I Khan
Pak-New Zealand match called off due to rain
NHA restores traffic on roads affected by recent rains in Balochistan
China to fully support Pakistan's efforts against terrorism: Ambassador Jiang
U.S. envoy calls on Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar
Poland arrests man over suspected plan to kill Zelensky
EU wants to ease youth movement to and from UK
Police foils attempt of supply mainpuri raw material
More Stories From Pakistan
-
5 Customs officials martyred as their vehicle ambushed by terrorists in D I Khan
7 hours ago -
NHA restores traffic on roads affected by recent rains in Balochistan
7 hours ago -
China to fully support Pakistan's efforts against terrorism: Ambassador Jiang
7 hours ago -
U.S. envoy calls on Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar
7 hours ago -
Police foils attempt of supply mainpuri raw material
8 hours ago -
Govt making efforts to eradicate polio: DC
8 hours ago
-
Parliamentarians hail President's speech as reminiscent of state policy, rebuke Opposition's protest
8 hours ago -
Collective efforts to overcome challenges to education, say speakers at Int'l conference
8 hours ago -
RCB destroys 200 Kg of unhealthy meat
8 hours ago -
Turkish CGS calls on Army Chief, commends Pakistan Army's role in combating terrorism
8 hours ago -
CM directs to prepare wheat purchase plan for next season
8 hours ago -
Participants of management course of WAPDA Administrative Staff College meet Governor
8 hours ago