UN pays tributes to fallen peacekeepers

Names of the 77 military, police, civilian personnel who died serving the UN last year were read out during ceremony

UNITED NATIONS:

The United Nations family came together on Wednesday to pay tribute to its 77 staff members, including seven Pakistanis, who lost their lives while serving under the UN flag in 2022.

Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, relatives of the fallen personnel, members of the diplomatic community and UN staff from around the world attended solemn ceremony at UN Headquarters, both in-person and online.

Also present on the occasion incuded Pakistan’s UN Ambassador Munir Akram, Military Advisor to the Pakistan Mission Col Umar Shafiq Chughtai and Dr Mariam Aamir, wife of martyred Maj Faizan Ali.

“We are here to mourn together, to remember together, and to pay our respects together,” Guterres told the event held in the iconic Trusteeship Council chamber.
At the start of the ceremony, the secretary-general lit a candle, representing an eternal flame. The UN chief called for a minute of silence “for all our dear, dear colleagues that have given their lives for others to be able to live”.

The names of the 77 military, police and civilian personnel who died serving the UN last year were read out during the ceremony. Guterres said these men and women from 36 countries were both “colleagues and friends”.

He said: “Their courage saved lives, their commitment safeguarded those in need, and their expertise helped to build a better world – now and in the future”. He promised “to keep supporting” their families.

The Pakistani peacekeepers whose names were read out were: Havildar Muhammad Ismail, Major Faizan Ali, Lt-Col Asif Ali Awan, Naib Subedar Sami Ullah Khan, Major Muhammad Saad Nomani, Lance Havildar Muhammad Jamil Khan and Babar Siddique.

Dr. Mariam Aamir, who was representing the families of martyred Pakistani peacekeepers, met the secretary-general and other dignitaries on the occasion. She said Pakistan would continue to contribute to the cause of world peace and security.