UN Secretary-General Honors Nepali Peacekeeper Bhupajit Rai Posthumously

United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has posthumously honored Nepali peacekeeper Bhupajit Rai with the prestigious Dag Hammarskjold medal. Rai had served in the UN stabilization mission in Congo before his untimely death on October 13 last year.

The ceremony, held at the UN Headquarters to mark the International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers on Thursday, saw Secretary-General Guterres presenting the award to Lok Bahadur Thapa, Nepal’s Permanent Representative to the UN. The Secretary-General praised Rai’s bravery, dedication, and devotion to duty, expressing confidence that Rai’s legacy would continue to inspire peacekeepers worldwide.

Rai’s commitment and ultimate sacrifice highlight the critical role peacekeepers play in conflict zones. The International Day of UN Peacekeepers, observed since 1948, commemorates the deployment of the first military observers to the Middle East to oversee the Israel-Arab Armistice Agreements. This initiative led to the formation of the United Nations Truce Supervision Organization.

Over the past 76 years, more than two million peacekeepers from 125 countries have participated in 71 operations globally. Presently, around 76,000 women and men are deployed in 11 conflict zones across Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East.

Nepal stands as the largest contributor of military and police personnel to UN peacekeeping missions, with over 6,000 personnel currently serving in various regions including Abyei, the Central African Republic, Cyprus, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Iraq, Kosovo, Lebanon, Libya, the Middle East, Somalia, South Sudan, Western Sahara, and Yemen. The Nepalese government continues to deploy personnel from the Nepal Army, Armed Police Force, and Nepal Police in support of these critical missions.

Rai’s award underscores the significant contributions and sacrifices of Nepali peacekeepers in maintaining global peace and security, reinforcing Nepal’s commitment to international peacekeeping efforts.