United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres highlighted a somber statistic: more than half of the UN personnel who lost their lives in the line of duty were serving in Gaza. Guterres emphasized that these tragedies should resonate globally, stating, “I want to make it absolutely clear: UN personnel must never be targeted. Attacks against peacekeepers and humanitarian workers are a violation of international law, including international humanitarian law.”
He recalled the recent death of a UNIFIL peacekeeper in Lebanon last week, marking the seventh such fatality since clashes between Hezbollah and Israeli forces began in March.
From Diverse Backgrounds, United in Purpose
Guterres noted that among the women and men honored at UN Headquarters, 97 were civilians and 39 were armed military and police peacekeepers. These individuals hailed from 32 different countries, and while “diverse in origin, they were united in purpose.” He added, “We remember them for their work. They were teachers educating children, health workers caring for the sick and wounded, drivers delivering aid, and so much more.”
More Than Half of Fallen Staff Were in Gaza
Specifically, Guterres revealed that 80 of the deceased were staff members of UNRWA, the UN agency aiding Palestinian refugees, working in Gaza. He underscored that this number exceeds the total UN personnel casualties in any conflict or disaster in the organization’s history. “Some lost their lives with their families in their homes or in shelters. Others were killed while on duty, in their offices, in shelters, and in the communities they served,” he stated.
The ceremony also commemorated personnel from peacekeeping missions in places like the Central African Republic (MINUSCA), the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUSCO), and South Sudan (UNMISS).
“You Made Our World A Better Place”
Addressing a time when multilateralism is under attack and powerful forces seek to convince people that the UN is a mere illusion, Guterres declared, “The people we honor today prove otherwise. You made our world a better place.”
During the commemoration, the Secretary-General lit a candle representing an eternal flame alongside the Presidents of the General Assembly and the Security Council, followed by a minute of silence. UN officials then read the names of the fallen, accompanied by a live performance by a violinist. Since 2011, the Secretary-General has hosted an annual memorial ceremony at UN Headquarters in New York. The 2024 ceremony honored 168 UN personnel and peacekeepers who died in the line of duty in 2023, and 188 individuals who died in 2024.
