The National Centre for Peacekeeping Forces (NPMEC) on May 26 commemorated the International Day of UN Peacekeepers, in recognition of their service and sacrifice and to honour the memory of those who had lost their lives in the course of peacekeeping.
NPMEC director-general Sem Sovanny said that every year on May 29, the centre, together with representatives of the UN in Cambodia and foreign embassies, pay their respects to the fallen peacekeepers who had lost their lives in action.
He noted that their names are inscribed both at the UN headquarters in New York and in the UN offices of member states.
Sovanny highlighted the high number of deaths of peacekeepers, citing a UN peacekeeping force report that said 4,200 of them have lost their lives during UN peacekeeping missions since 1948.
Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Prak Sokhonn said at the event that the day was a chance to honour both those who had embarked on peacekeeping missions as well as the memory of those who had sacrificed their lives for the cause of peace.
“Through this day, we have a chance to honour the 8,302 men and women . . . who had completed or have been fulfilling peacekeeping missions in countries facing conflict. We also honour the memory of the 10 Cambodian peacekeeping forces who had lost their lives in the cause of peace,” he said.
