With the sudden demise recently of Brigadier General (Technical) Dr Bharat Prasad Singh while on duty in Sudan, the number of Nepali peacekeepers who have died while serving in various United Nations (UN) peace-keeping missions has reached 73, a majority of them security forces personnel killed in crossfire or in accidents.

 

Of the total number of deceased in the past 58 years, 63 UN peacekeepers were from the Nepal Army, 8 were from Nepal Police and two from the Armed Police Force (APF).

 

According to United Nations peacekeeping mission data published at the end of 2015 and updated on January 12, the number of blue helmets who lost their lives to violence, disease and accidents, among other causes, was 3,438 across the globe. Altogether 121 peacekeepers died in 2015.

 

The UN said data on fatalities covering the period from 1948 through 2015 shows that the highest number of fallen peacekeepers (161) were from India, followed by Nigeria (146), Pakistan (137), Ghana (136), Bangladesh (125), Canada (125), France (111) and Ethiopia (106).

 

The Nepal Army said that the contribution of peacekeepers serving in different conflict-hit nations sheds light on Nepal's role in global peace efforts. Nepal became a member of the United Nations in 1955, and the national army has since contributed to over 41 UN missions with the active participation of over 110,747 personnel. Nepal Police and the APF have also made a notable contribution, with advisers, instructors and monitors serving in various missions.

 

Nepal started contributing to UN missions in 1958 when it sent troops to Lebanon, the country where the most number of Nepali peacekeepers (over 28) have lost their lives to date.

 

"Of the total number of Nepali peacekeepers losing their lives in various UN missions, a majority were killed in crossfire," NA spokesperson Brigadier General Tara Bahadur Karki said, adding that Brigadier Singh died of illness.

 

Brigadier Singh was working with the United Nations-African Union Mission in Darfur, Sudan, and he died on January 24. Issuing a statement on Monday, the NA said, "It is a proud moment for military personnel to serve for the sake of the country and people even under difficult circumstances."

 

The brigadier's body was airlifted to Nepal Sunday and cremated at Aaryaghat in the presence acting CoAS Lieutenant General Baldev Raj Mahat, family members of the deceased and other high-ranking army officers. A farewell salute was offered.

 

The army has also contributed to senior appointments and force headquarters, besides deploying troop contingents, observers and staff officers. The army has made significant contributions of personnel to position capabilities such as engineers, medical teams and special forces.

 

NA spokesperson Brigadier Karki informed that a compensation amount of USD 70,000 including USD 5,000 as cremation fund is provided to the dependent family members. Before the compensation hike in July 2010, the sum paid for those killed was USD 50,000.

 

The peacekeepers should have been on duty and free of chronic disease to claim the compensation amount, according to NA. Someone who dies of a heart attack cannot claim compensation. Similarly, in the case of injuries, the UN has different criteria based on the nature of the physical disability suffered, for the allocation of compensation amounts.

 

So far, 59 peacekeepers from NA have been disabled, a majority of them sustaining minor disability.

 

"The institution also honors the deceased and the families of those killed will benefit from entitlements, retirement privileges, provident fund payments and liberalized family pension, among other things," Nepal Police spokesperson DIG Kamal Singh Bam said.

 

On UN Peacekeepers' Day every year, the fallen blue helmets are honored and commemorated.