173 UN peacekeepers died in 2010

173 UN peacekeepers died in 2010

2011-05-27 21:27:18 GMT+7 (ICT)

UNITED NATIONS (BNO NEWS) -- The United Nations on Friday announced that 173 peacekeepers lost their lives in 2010 due to natural disasters, violence, accidents and diseases.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon added that more than 100 UN blue helmets died in a single catastrophic event, the January 2010 earthquake in Haiti. The announcement was made on the International Day of UN Peacekeepers, observed each May 29.

"Their deployment is a manifestation of our collective conviction that people who have survived a war should not have to suffer again through a period of insecurity, injustice and fear – and that only by removing these conditions can we engender lasting peace," said Ban.

The Secretary-General also remembered that seven peacekeepers were murdered in an attack on a UN compound in Afghanistan in early April. A few days alter, 32 UN staff members tragically died in a plane crash serving the UN mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

"As we remember the heavy sacrifices of our staff, we also hail their accomplishments," added Ban. "United Nations blue helmets have represented the Organization at its best – restoring stability; fostering reconciliation; and nurturing hope for a better future."

Last year, the UN deployed peacekeepers to support the Southern Sudan referendum; to helping resolve the post-electoral crisis in Côte d’Ivoire; to provide training, capacity-building and institutional development of police in Timor-Leste; and to patrol the hills of southern Lebanon.

Ban remarked that the upholding of the rule of law is essential to successful peacekeeping operations which require strengthening confidence in police, justice systems and correctional services.

"On this day of United Nations Peacekeepers, focused on the rule of law, we thank the countries that contribute troops, police and civilian personnel to our operations, and we honor those individuals who serve the United Nations with such distinction and dedication."

There are nearly 85,000 military personnel, more than 14,000 police officers, 5,700 international civilian and 13,700 national staff serving in 15 operations on four continents, according to the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO).

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