An Indian peacekeeper who lost his life serving under the UN flag is among the over 60 military, police and civilian peacekeepers honoured posthumously, on May 30, 2024, with a prestigious medal here for the service and supreme sacrifice in the line of duty.
Naik Dhananjay Kumar Singh, who served with the UN Stabilisation Mission in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) was honoured posthumously with the Dag Hammarskjold medal during a solemn ceremony when the United Nations commemorated the International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers. India’s Permanent Ambassador to the United Nations, Ruchira Kamboj recived the medal from UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres.
Naik Dhananjay Singh was from the Indian Army’s Medical Corps, was a nursing assistant with the MONUSCO provided medical service to the military personnel. He was made the part of Indian battalion-1 on July 7, 2023. His responsibilities included vaccination of troops on the ground, their medical examination and regular medic duties like combat medical care.
In DRC, he served at a Level One Hospital ensuring round the clock operability of critical care and medical help, according to an Indian media agency. Singh died on November 1, 2023 due to ischemic heart disease while on duty. This disease is caused by poor blood flow to the heart, usually a result of coronary artery disease.
India is the second largest contributor of uniformed personnel to the UN Peacekeeping. It currently deploys more than 6000 military and police personnel to the UN operations in Abyei, Central African Republic, Cyprus, the DRC, Lebanon, Middle East. Syria, Somalia South Sudan and Western Sahara. Nearly 180 peacekeepers have made the supreme sacrifice in the line of duty, the highest number from any troop contributing country.
During the formal ceremonies at the United Nations Headquarters on May 30 Secretary General Antonio Guterres laid a wreath at the Peacekeeper Memorial Site on North Lawn to honour all the peacekeepers who have lost their life since 1948.
In his message to mark the Peacekeepers Day Guterres said the world organisation pays tribute to more than 76,000 United Nations Peacekeepers who embody humanity’s highest ideal, peace. “Day in and Day Out, at great personal risk, these men and women bravely work in some of the most dangerous places on this earth, to protect civilians uphold human rights support elections and strengthen institutions,” he said, noting that more than 4500 peacekeepers have paid the ultimate price while serving under the UN Flag. We will never forget them,” he said.
