UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon on Sunday paid tribute to the 3, 400 peacekeepers who lost their lives while in service under the UN flag.
Ban, in a message to mark the International Day of UN Peacekeepers in New York , titled: “Honouring Our Heroes,” observed on May 29, also paid tribute to the no fewer than one million men and women who have served with pride, distinction and courage since the first deployment in 1948.
” We are forever in their debt. We pledge today to realise the full potential of United Nations peacekeeping to usher in a better future”.
He said that the confidence that the world placed in UN peacekeeping was reflected in its massive growth in recent years.
Fifteen years ago, he said, the UN had fewer than 40,000 military and police personnel deployed to different parts of the world.
Today, he added, no fewer than 105,000 uniformed personnel from 124 troop- and police-contributing countries served under the blue flag, along with 18,000 international and national civilian staff and UN Volunteers.
“They manifest the best attributes of global solidarity, courageously serving in dangerous environments to provide security to some of the world’s most vulnerable.
“Over the past year, the Blue Helmets deployed across 16 peacekeeping operations around the world have saved countless lives, advanced peace and inspired hope,” he said.
In South Sudan, he added, no fewer than 200,000 civilians, who feared for their lives, sought shelter at UN bases.
In the Central African Republic, Ban said, peacekeepers successfully supported landmark presidential and legislative elections that have set the once deeply troubled country on a path to peace and stability.
“Peacekeepers have confronted armed groups in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo and disarmed ex-combatants.
“In Mali, peacekeepers have suffered grave losses but that have not deterred them from implementing their mandate,” he said.
Ban said as the size, complexity and accomplishments of peacekeeping have grown, unfortunately, so have the risks.
He said that before the end of the last millennium, about three dozen peacekeepers lost their lives each year, but now that figure had risen to an average of 120.
In 2015, he said, the list of fallen numbered 129.
Those who died, he said, came from 50 countries, from the ranks of the military, police, international civil servants, UN Volunteers and national staff.
“They had vastly different backgrounds, but all shared heroism and the belief that United Nations peacekeeping is and must remain a global force for good,” he said.
He said that was why it was critical to end the deeply disturbing cases of sexual exploitation and abuse on the part of international forces deployed to troubled areas.
“I have been unrelenting in my call for a focus on the victims.
“I am proactively addressing this serious problem at every opportunity while calling on Member States, which alone have the power to discipline their forces, to impose severe consequences that provide a full measure of justice and healing to the affected communities,’’ he said.
NAN reports that three Nigerians died in peacekeeping operations in 2015.
Those who died are Mr Oladipo Oni, an international civilian, who served the UN Stabilisation Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Mr Salisu Adeyemi, a volunteer with the UN Mission in Liberia.
The other, is Michael Onuoha, who served as police peacekeeper in the UN Mission in South Sudan.
NAN reports that the fallen peacekeepers were among the 129 honoured by the Secretary-General on May 19.
NAN reports that Nigeria is currently the 12th largest contributor or military and police personnel to UN peacekeeping.
There are 2,810 Nigerian peacekeepers currently serving in Central African Republic, Cote d’Ivoire, DR Congo, Haiti, Lebanon, Liberia, Mali, Sudan, South Sudan and Western Sahara.
NAN reports that 147 Nigerian peacekeepers have lost their lives since the UN first deployed peacekeepers in 1948.