A total of 115 UN staff members from more than 40 countries have lost their lives in the line of duty over the past year, Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said during a memorial service for fallen personnel on Monday
WASHINGTON (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 06th May, 2019) A total of 115 UN staff members from more than 40 countries have lost their lives in the line of duty over the past year, Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said during a memorial service for fallen personnel on Monday."Each year we meet to pay tribute to our colleagues and friends who have lost their lives on United Nations duty," Guterres said. "This year, we honour 115 colleagues from 43 nations who lost their lives between January 2018 and March this year."
The UN said that the majority of those who died on duty were involved in peacekeeping missions, with the vast majority - 103 out of the 115 - deployed to Africa.
"This number is striking, and is a stark testament to the commitment and sacrifices of our African partners to our joint endeavours toward global peace and security," Guterres said.
The secretary-general added that 19 civilians from UN agencies, funds and programs lost their lives over the same time period, while 21 personnel died in the plane crash in Ethiopia this March.
In 2013-2017, some 310 UN staff members died in the line of duty.
