Kathmandu, June 2: Nepal marked the International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers with a special ceremony at the Birendra Peace Operations Training Centre (BPOTC) in Panchkhal, Kavrepalanchok, honouring the service and sacrifice of Nepali personnel deployed in conflict zones around the world.
Although the international observance falls annually on May 29, Nepal held its commemorative programme on June 1, organised by the Nepali Army. The day marks the establishment of the first United Nations peacekeeping mission in 1948, when the UN Security Council created the United Nations Truce Supervision Organization (UNTSO) to monitor a ceasefire in the Middle East.
Two peacekeepers to receive UN medal posthumously
This year’s main global observance will take place at the United Nations Headquarters in New York on June 5, where UN Secretary-General António Guterres will posthumously award the prestigious Dag Hammarskjöld Medal to 68 military, police and civilian peacekeepers who lost their lives while serving under the UN flag.
Among the recipients are two Nepali peacekeepers:
- Corporal Suraj Lamichhane, who died while serving in the Central African Republic in 2025.
- Soldier Devi Ram Jainshi, who lost his life during a peacekeeping mission in East Timor in 2000.
According to the United Nations, 59 of the 68 peacekeepers being honoured died in the previous year.
Nepal remains largest contributor to UN Peacekeeping
Nepal continues to be the world’s largest contributor of security personnel to UN peacekeeping operations.
Currently, 5,179 Nepali troops and police personnel, including 364 women, are deployed across 11 UN missions in:
- Abyei
- Central African Republic
- Cyprus
- Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Kosovo
- Lebanon
- Libya
- Middle East
- Somalia
- South Sudan
- Western Sahara
Overall, personnel from 118 countries are serving in 11 active UN peacekeeping missions worldwide.
The United Nations says peacekeeping missions remain vital for supporting political solutions to conflicts, protecting civilians, monitoring ceasefires, facilitating humanitarian assistance and carrying out demining operations in fragile and conflict-affected regions.
The theme for this year’s observance is “Investing in Peace”, highlighting the need to sustain peacekeeping efforts despite growing global challenges and declining resources. The UN notes that peacekeeping missions are increasingly operating in complex environments marked by prolonged conflicts, political fragmentation and emerging threats such as the misuse of digital technologies and the spread of harmful information.
During the Panchkhal programme, Chief of the Army Staff General Ashok Raj Sigdel presented certificates of honour to the families of the two fallen Nepali peacekeepers. The Army also awarded commendation certificates to five serving personnel in recognition of their outstanding contributions to peacekeeping operations.
The event was attended by senior officials from the Ministry of Defence, Nepal Police, Armed Police Force Nepal, National Investigation Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, local government representatives, military attachés from friendly nations, journalists, and serving and retired Army personnel.
Nepal has been contributing troops to UN peacekeeping missions since 1958, building a reputation as one of the most reliable contributors to international peace and security efforts. Since joining UN peacekeeping operations, 78 Nepali peacekeepers have lost their lives and 67 have been injured while serving in missions around the world.
As global conflicts continue to challenge international stability, Nepal’s longstanding commitment to UN peacekeeping remains a key pillar of its contribution to global peace and security. #nepal
