UN honors Pinoy peacekeeper, 105 others

MANILA, Philippines - The 106 peacekeepers who died in the line of duty last year will be honored at the United Nations today, the International Day of UN Peacekeepers.

The honorees include Army Sgt. Benson Angot, who died of malaria in Liberia on Oct. 22, 2013. He was part of the 17th Philippine contingent deployed to Liberia in 2012.

They will be awarded the Dag Hammarskjld Medal given to members of peacekeeping operations who lost their lives while under the UN’s operational control and authority.

In a statement yesterday, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said: “Last year, 106 peacekeepers perished carrying out their duty under the UN flag, bringing the total number of lives lost in the history of peacekeeping to more than 3,200.

“We mourn the passing of every one of these courageous individuals. We grieve with their friends and families and we recommit ourselves to ensure that their contributions to the cause of peace will never be forgotten.”  

The Armed Forces also awarded a posthumous medal to Angot last December in recognition of his contributions to international peacekeeping efforts.

The Philippines has deployed 676 soldiers and policemen to UN peacekeeping operations in Cote d’Ivoire, Haiti, India-Pakistan, Liberia and the Middle East, including the Golan Heights.   

It has been sending peacekeepers to these areas in line with its commitment to maintain global peace.

The UN said commemorative activities will be held today at its New York headquarters, as well as peacekeeping offices around the world.

Ban is expected to witness a solemn wreath-laying ceremony in honor of all fallen peacekeepers. 

He will also deliver remarks during the awarding of posthumous medals to the fallen peacekeepers.

UN Undersecretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations Herv Ladsous said: “We honor those who have lost their lives while serving on our peacekeeping operations. Our courageous peacekeepers who made this ultimate sacrifice did so so that others could have a better life.”

In 2002, the General Assembly established the International Day of UN Peacekeepers to pay tribute to peacekeeping contingents and to those who lost their lives for the cause of peace. 

The event is held every May 29 because the UN Truce Supervision Organization started operations in Palestine on that date.

About 85,000 soldiers, 12,500 policemen and 17,000 international civilian and national staff are conducting peacekeeping operations in four continents.