Press releases

Press Conference by Mr. Jean-Pierre Lacroix, Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations, on the International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers.

I am honoured to join you today to remember the brave women and men who have lost their lives while serving in UN Peacekeeping.   More than 3,800 military, police and civilian peacekeepers have lost their lives since the United Nations deployed the first of its 72 peacekeeping missions back in 1948.    These peacekeepers gave their lives to protect others and to give war-torn countries a chance for peace and hope.   Today, in 14 missions around the world, our peacekeepers serve heroically to preserve peace and stability.   

As New York Headquarters observes the International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers on Friday, 24 May, Secretary-General António Guterres will lay a wreath to honour all fallen peacekeepers and preside over a ceremony for the posthumous award of the Dag Hammarskjöld Medal to 119 military, police and civilian personnel who have paid the ultimate price while serving in peacekeeping operations in 2018 and early 2019.

The Secretary-General condemns today's attacks against the United Nation's Integrated Stabilization Mission for Mali (MINUSMA) in Timbuktu and Tessalit.   He is deeply saddened at the death of a Nigerian peacekeeper who succumbed to his wounds following the armed attack by unidentified assailants in Timbuktu. He expresses heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family and to the Government of Nigeria. He wishes a speedy recovery to another Nigerian peacekeeper who was wounded in the same attack.