El Fasher, 27 May 2010 – The eighth annual International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers will be observed on 29 May 2010—a particularly somber occasion due to the heavy loss of life of peacekeepers in Haiti and elsewhere earlier this year.

Since May 29 falls on Saturday this year, commemorative activities at the United Nations Headquarters and many other United Nations offices around the world will be held on Friday, 28 May. As both dates are the weekend in the Sudan, the African Union – Union Nations Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) will officially mark the occasion on Sunday, 30 May.

The International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers was established by the General Assembly in 2002 to pay tribute to all men and women serving in UN peacekeeping operations for their high level of professionalism, dedication and courage, and to honor the memory of those who have lost their lives in the cause of peace. The General Assembly designated 29 May as the Day, as it was the date in 1948 when the first UN peacekeeping mission, the United Nations Truce Supervision Organization (UNTSO), began operations in Palestine.

One hundred twenty one peacekeepers who lost their lives while serving with the United Nations in 2009 will posthumously receive the Dag Hammarskjöld medal on 28 May. In addition, this year the UN will also honor those who died in January and February, 2010. Of the 101 fatalities suffered by the United Nations as a result of the 12 January 2010 earthquake, 96 were from the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH), the biggest single loss of life in the history of UN peacekeeping.

Among other tragedies that befell peacekeepers in 2009 were a fatal airplane crash in Haiti and an assault on UN staff at a guest house in Kabul. Attacks continued in 2009 and 2010 against peacekeepers in Darfur.

“This year's commemoration is especially somber. The past 14 months have marked one of the deadliest periods in the more than 60-year-history of United Nations peacekeeping,” Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said in a statement regarding the Day.

“The recent tragedy in Haiti highlights the sacrifice and dedication of UN peacekeepers who deploy around the world – despite the dangers and risks they face – with the common goal of providing a better future for the people in the countries in which they serve,” said Mr. Le Roy, Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations.

This year’s commemorative ceremonies come at a time when the services of UN peacekeepers are in greater demand than ever. There are more than 124,000 peacekeepers, including 100,000 military and police personnel from 115 countries, serving in 16 operations on four continents. This broad-based participation not only bolsters the strength of UN operations, but it is also a clear demonstration of widespread respect for, dependence on and confidence in United Nations Peacekeeping.

As peacekeeping has grown in size, it has also grown in scope. Peacekeeping’s traditional role of monitoring ceasefire agreements and borders between sovereign States has evolved to carrying out large scale multi-dimensional Peacekeeping operations, addressing intrastate conflicts. Many newer missions are mandated to facilitate political processes through the promotion of national dialogue and reconciliation; protect civilians; assist in the disarmament, demobilization and reintegration of combatants; support the organization of elections; protect and promote human rights; promote reform of the domestic security sector; and assist in restoring the rule of law.

To honor those peacekeepers who have fallen and those who continue to serve in the cause of peace, UNAMID will mark the occasion at its headquarters in El Fasher, North Darfur, on Sunday 30 May.

The programme, to open with a solemn wreath-laying ceremony and the lowering of the flags of the African Union and the United Nations, will include events throughout the morning and afternoon. Among these being local children's choirs, cultural activities, a photo and substantive sections exhibition, and parades.

The event will be presided over by the Chief of the Mission, Joint Special Representative (JSR) Professor Ibrahim Gambari, in the presence of UNAMID staff, as well as representatives from UN agencies, Sudanese authorities and the media.

Communication and Public Information Division Media Contacts

Kemal Saïki, Director; saiki@un.org, tel.: +249 (0)92 244 3529 / mobile: +249 (0)92 241 0020

Noureddine Mezni, Spokesperson; mezni@un.org, tel.: +249 (0)92 271 4276 / mobile: +249 (0)92 253 8420

Chris Cycmanick, OiC Media Relations; cycmanick@un.org, mobile: +249 (0)91 253 8436