JamzNG Latest News, Gist, Entertainment in Nigeria
Warning International Day of UN Peacekeepers comes hours after another blue helmet served in the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFILE) died from wounds he suffered from a mortar attack, as hostilities continued between Israeli forces and Hezbollah militants.
The day starts with the UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres put a bouquet of flowers on Peacekeepers Memorial on the Secretariat grounds in New York before presiding over a solemn ceremony at Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) was attended by senior officials, the diplomatic community, as well as family members and colleagues left behind.
Secretary-General António Guterres attended a wreath-laying ceremony honoring fallen Peacekeepers at the Peacekeeping Memorial at UN Headquarters.
Service and sacrifice
“Sadly, as the events of this week remind us, Peacekeepers continue to face danger for the sake of peace – and we pay the highest tribute to their service and sacrifice,” He said.
The Secretary General awarded it posthumously Dag Hammarskjold Medal on 68 peacekeeping forces from 33 countries, including the 59 that suffered the consequences last year. Their photos were displayed on the screen and their names were read out as the country representatives received their medal boxes.
“They represent the best of humanity – people who are prepared to risk everything to keep others safe,” he said.
Courage award
Two peacekeepers were honored for their bravery, receiving the Captain Mbaye Diagne Medal for Exceptional Bravery – named after a Senegalese military officer killed in Rwanda in 1994.
Sergeant Matias Reyes from Uruguay saves lives while serving under the UN flag in the restive eastern region of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in January 2025. Ebola the outbreak there prevented him from traveling to New York.
Another recipient, Sergii Prykhodko from Ukraine – a private contractor with a helicopter crew at the UN Mission in South Sudan (DON’T MISS) – sacrificed his life during a dangerous mission to evacuate besieged soldiers in March 2025.
“This medal honors his bravery, but also reminds us of the true price of peace – viz the sacrifices made by those who serve far from home for people they may never meet,” his widow, Tetiana Prykhodko, said at the meeting.
Secretary General António Guterres paid tribute to the family of Sergii Prykhodko, a Ukrainian peacekeeper killed in action.
Putting others first
Speak afterwards to UN Newsshe recalled that her husband “always went wherever help was needed, knowing that danger was inevitable,” and agreed to volunteer at the UN because he wanted to help others.
“He did what he always did – he put others before himself. And I believe his example in serving peace is an example for all of us,” he said.
Mrs Prykhodko, who attended the ceremony with her six-year-old daughter Elizabeth, wanted her husband to be remembered for his humanity, courage and sense of responsibility.
“For our family, it is a great honor that the UN remembers Sergii not only as a fallen hero, but also as a person who chose humanity every day.”
The body of UN peacekeeper, Chef Sergeant Florian Montorio, was returned to his home country.
Courage amidst danger
More than 50,000 peacekeepers are currently deployed around the world with mandated duties including protecting civilians, supporting elections, providing humanitarian assistance, and clearing land mines.
“The courage we realized this morning is not something abstractsaid the head of UN Peace Operations, Jean-Pierre Lacroix. “This is lived every day by peacekeepers serving in some of the world’s most dangerous and difficult environments.”
The peacekeeper killed in southern Lebanon on Thursday, Serbian Sergeant Milovan Jovanović, was the seventh UNIFIL blue helmet to be felled since hostilities escalated in March.
Lacroix said this was his first peacekeeping deployment, having arrived in the country in January, and he would have turned 37 on Saturday.
Complex environment, many challenges
It highlights how peacekeepers are working in an increasingly complex environment characterized by rising geopolitical tensions, fragmented conflicts, disinformation, rapidly evolving technologies, and increasing pressure on multilateral cooperation.
At the same time, peacekeeping operations face serious financial constraints due to delays and incomplete payment of mandatory contributions.
The consequences include forced reductions in patrols and air operations, delays to infrastructure projects, and limited support to local communities. Meanwhile, expectations continue to rise.
Invest in peace
“However, peacekeepers continue to provide assistancehe said.
Lacroix emphasized the importance of continued investment in peace, including “ensuring that peacekeeping forces have the necessary political support, resources, training and capabilities to carry out the mandates entrusted to them by Member States.”
Women, peace and advocacy
During the ceremony, the UN also celebrated two female peacekeepers who were pioneers.
Major Abhilasha Barak from India, assigned to the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), received the Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award.
Inspector Stephanie Königs from Germany, who serves in the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), received the 2025 Female Police Officer of the Year Award.
Friday’s event is included in the annual observations International Day of UN Peacekeepers on May 29 – the day the first field mission, the United Nations Armistice Supervision Organization in the Middle East (UNTSO), was established in 1948.
Since then, more than two million women and men have served in 71 peacekeeping missions on four continents.
