United Nations is honouring 119 brave men and women with the Dag Hammarskjold medal, who lost their lives while serving the United Nations. They were military and police personnel, international civil servants, national staff, and United Nations Volunteers.
They came from 38 different countries and served in 12 different United Nations peace operations around the world. Hailing from different backgrounds, our fallen heroes were united in their efforts to help the United Nations attain its most important objective — to save further generations from the scourge of war.
Indian police officer Jitendra Kumar, was posthumously awarded the Dag Hammarskjold medal. Kumar laid down his life while serving in the UN Organisation Stabilization Mission in the Central African country.
Speaking of “the true cost of peacekeeping”, the UN chief called for a moment of silence for those who “paid the ultimate price” to protect others and “to give war-torn countries a chance for peace and hope”.
Mr. Guterres quoted Secretary-General Hammarskjöld in saying: “The pursuit of peace and progress, with its trials and its errors, its successes and its setbacks, can never be relaxed and never abandoned.”
“Today, as we honour our fallen colleagues with the Dag Hammarskjöld medal, let us also honour them by living up to his call to never abandon the pursuit of peace”, he stressed.
“I offer my highest tribute to those we remember here today, and my sincerest condolences to their loved ones left behind”, he concluded, asking for a moment of silence.
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