"The UN will never forget the high cost your families made for the cause of peace," says Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon. DESIGN: FAIZAN DAWOOD
"I make a solemn pledge to the loved ones of those who we honour: the United Nations will never forget the high cost that your family paid for the cause of peace," Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon told a solemn gathering attending the annual International Day of UN Peacekeepers.
Sacrifices of 103 peacekeepers were commemorated altogether, including the four Pakistanis.
"We will preserve their memory, carry on their work and do everything possible to establish lasting peace in the areas where they served," the UN chief added.
He also paid tribute to more than 111,000 military, police and civilians currently serving worldwide under the blue flag.
Colonel Solat Rana, military adviser at the Pakistan Mission to the United Nations, received the Dag Hammarskold medals on behalf of the families of the awardees from UN Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations Herve Ladsous at the ceremony held at UN Headquarters in New York.
The Pakistan Army soldiers who sacrificed their lives are: Subedar Mukhtiar Ahmed (UNOCI - Ivory Coast); Havaldar Ali Khan (MONUSCO - Democratic Republic of Congo); Sepoy Ahmed Niaz (UNOCI - Ivory Coast), and Sepoy Habibullah (MONUSCO - Democratic Republic of Congo).
"We are working hard to improve safety for our personnel around the world," the Secretary-General said, while addressing a number of peacekeepers present at the ceremony.
"But peacekeeping is inherently dangerous and the risks attributed to it are growing," the UN chief continued.
Last year, UN personnel were killed during attacks on their patrols in Ivory Coast, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Sudan, and South Sudan, he said.
"In the coming months, members of the United Nations Intervention Brigade will arrive in the eastern DRC," he told the participants. "We will field a new operation in Mali, where terrorism poses a real threat." Ban added.
"Acts of violence receive the most attention, but they are not the only threat to our personnel. Many of our fallen colleagues die from disease. Others lose their lives in car accidents on dangerous roads in undeveloped areas."
"Whatever the cause of death, we honour all fallen peacekeepers for their sacrifice, courage and selfless service on behalf the United Nations sorrow for these colleagues and friends - and your determination to carry on their work for peace," he said.
Pakistan is one the biggest contributor to UN peacekeeping missions around the world with over 8,000 troops.
The UN General Assembly established the International Day in 2002 to pay tribute to all men and women contributing to the UN peacekeeping operations for their dedication and courage, and to honour the memory of those who have lost their lives in the cause of peace.
The 193-member body designated May 29 as the day, as it was the date in 1948 when the first UN peacekeeping mission, the UN Truce Supervision Organisation (UNTSO), began operations in Palestine.
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good experience for army to learn best practices if they adopt them too. BD earned USD 1 billion from this thing alone. Pak must cross this figure, I know its difficult since head of peacekeeping is a BD. Had it been a Pak, it d have been worse