Ever since the UN deployed the first of its 72 peacekeeping missions back in 1948, more than 3,800 peacekeepers have lost their lives, Secretary-General Ant贸nio听Guterres said on Friday, at a wreath laying ceremony in honour of those 鈥渂rave men and women鈥� who serve.
Speaking of 鈥渢he true cost of peacekeeping鈥�, the UN chief called for a moment of silence for those who 鈥減aid the ultimate price鈥� to protect others and 鈥渢o give war-torn countries a chance for peace and hope鈥�.
鈥淭oday, in 14 missions around the world, our peacekeepers serve heroically to preserve peace and stability鈥�, he听said, adding that they also 鈥渇ace grave threats鈥�.
He noted that UN missions in Mali, South Sudan, the Central African Republic, Lebanon and the Democratic Republic of the Congo 鈥渁re among the most dangerous that we have ever undertaken鈥�, saying that 鈥渓ast year we lost 98 military, police and civilian peacekeepers from 36 countries鈥�.听
鈥淲e ask much of our peacekeepers鈥�, Mr. Guterres said. 鈥淚n return, we must continue to do all we can to ensure they are as safe as possible鈥�.
鈥淭oday, we honour the memory鈥� of the peacekeepers who did not return home, and 鈥渞ecommit ourselves to carrying forward their mission for a better future鈥�.
Honouring 119 fallen heroes
Following the wreath laying, the UN chief honoured 119 brave men and women with the Dag Hammarskjold medal.
鈥淔ifty-eight years ago, Secretary-General Dag Hammarskj枚ld died in a plane crash in the Congo while trying to broker a peace agreement to end the conflict in the country鈥�,听said听Mr. Guterres, calling the former UN chief 鈥渁 tireless and fearless champion of peace鈥� who took 鈥渞obust action when needed鈥�.
The pursuit of peace and progress, with its trials and its errors, its successes and its setbacks, can never be relaxed and never abandoned听鈥揝ecretary-General听Hammarskj枚ld
Today鈥檚 honourees were military and police personnel, international civil servants, national staff and UN Volunteers from 38 countries who served in 12 different UN peace operations around the world.
鈥淗ailing from different backgrounds, our fallen heroes were united in their efforts to help the UN attain its most important objective 鈥� to save further generations from the scourge of war鈥�, said Mr. Guterres. 鈥淭he medal we posthumously honour them with, bears the name of Secretary-General Hammarskj枚ld鈥�.
It is also inscribed with the fallen hero鈥檚 name, 鈥渇orever linking them in our hearts and in our memories鈥�, said the UN chief.
Mr. Guterres quoted Secretary-General Hammarskj枚ld in saying: 鈥淭he pursuit of peace and progress, with its trials and its errors, its successes and its setbacks, can never be relaxed and never abandoned.鈥�
鈥淭oday, as we honour our fallen colleagues with the Dag Hammarskj枚ld medal, let us also honour them by living up to his call to never abandon the pursuit of peace鈥�, he stressed.听
鈥淚 offer my highest tribute to those we remember here today, and my sincerest condolences to their loved ones left behind鈥�, he concluded, asking for a moment of silence.
A 鈥榯rue鈥� hero lost
In a special event as part of the commemorations, the UN chief paid tribute to the late Private Chancy Chitete of Malawi, who was hit by enemy fire while protecting and administering lifesaving first aid to his wounded Tanzanian comrade, Corporal Omary.
Private Chitete became only the second winner of the UN鈥檚 highest peacekeeping award, the 鈥淐aptain Mbaye Diagne Medal for Exceptional Courage鈥� which was established in 2014 for uniformed and civilian personnel听who meet the听criteria, and named听after听the late听UN peacekeeper听Captain听Diagne - the first posthumous recipient of the award -听who saved hundreds of lives in听Rwanda in听1994, before听being听killed.听听
鈥淭he world does not have many true heroes鈥�,听said听the UN chief, but Private Chitete, who was serving with the UN Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (), was 鈥渋ndeed one of them鈥�.
In November last year, while conducting an operation to stop armed attacks which were disrupting the Ebola response in local towns, peacekeepers came under heavy fire. As bullets were flying, Private Chitete dragged Corporal Omary back to an area 鈥渙f greater safety鈥�, Mr. Guterres recounted. 鈥淏oth were evacuated for medical treatment. Corporal Omary survived.听 Private Chitete did not鈥�.听听听
鈥淧rivate Chitete鈥檚 selfless heroism and sacrifice helped the peacekeepers achieve their objective and dislodge the militia from its stronghold and that was vital for the Ebola response to go on鈥�, he commended. 鈥淗e personally made a difference. A profound one鈥�.
The ceremony marked the first time the award has been conferred since its initial presentation to the family of Captain Diagne in 2016, said the Secretary-General, adding: 鈥淲e could not have found a more deserving recipient鈥�.
