India lost highest number of UN peacekeepers in 70 years
What's the story
In the last 70 years, India lost the highest number of its peacekeepers in various United Nations peacekeeping operations with many military, police, and civilian personnel from the country laying down their lives in the line of duty.
According to the UN, of the 3,737 peacekeepers who died since 1948, 163 have been from India, the highest total from any troop-contributing country.
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India
UN owes India $92 million for defense personnel
India is currently the third largest contributor of military and police personnel to UN peacekeeping, with 6,693 now deployed in Abyei, Cyprus, Congo, Haiti, Lebanon, the Middle East, South Sudan, and Western Sahara.
However, the UN owes India $92 million for troops, formed police units, and contingent-owned equipment.
The UN commemorated the International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers yesterday.
UN Peacekeeping
2018 marks 70th anniversary of UN Peacekeeping
Currently, over 96,000 uniformed personnel from 124 troops serve under the UN, alongside more than 15,000 international civilian staff and nearly 1,600 UN Volunteers.
"We express our gratitude to the more than one million men and women who have served under the UN flag," UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said in Mali to mark the 70th anniversary of UN peacekeeping (International Day of UN Peacekeeping).
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Mali, most dangerous country for UN peacekeepers
Mali, the north-west African country, is the most dangerous place in the world to be a UN "blue helmet (peacekeeper) and last year, 21 troops serving with the UN Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) lost their lives, together with seven civilians.
Ritual
Guterres will present the Dag Hammarskjold Medal on June 1
Upon his return from Mali, Guterres will preside over the observance of the day on June 1.
He will lay a wreath to honor those who died in the service of peace and will also posthumously present the Dag Hammarskjold Medal to 132 military, police and civilian personnel from 37 countries who lost their lives in peacekeeping operations during 2017.
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Indian recipients of the Dag Hammarskjold Medal
In 2016, two Indian peacekeepers - Rifleman Brijesh Thapa, with UN Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) and Private Ravi Kumar, with UN Interim Force in Lebanon - died in the line-of-duty and posthumously received the Dag Hammarskjold Medal.
Tribute
Sacrifice of peacekeepers inspired us to work harder: Under-Secretary-General Peacekeeping
Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations, Jean-Pierre Lacroix, said the sacrifice of the UN peacekeepers inspired them to work harder to support a sustainable peace in some of the world's most challenging places.
"Beyond gratitude, we owe our peacekeepers all the support we can muster to ensure they are well trained and prepared to complete their missions successfully," Under-Secretary-General for Field Support, Atul Khare, said.