Abu dhabi: United Nations Secretary-General Ant³nio Guterres has paid tribute to 136 UN personnel who lost their lives in the line of duty last year, including 80 staff members of the UN Relief and Works Agency in Gaza. Speaking at the annual memorial service for fallen UN staff, Guterres said the victims included 97 civilian personnel and 39 uniformed peacekeepers from military and police services. They came from 32 countries and served in some of the world's most difficult and dangerous environments.
According to Emirates News Agency, Guterres said more UN personnel have been killed in Gaza than in any other conflict or disaster in the history of the United Nations. Some were killed alongside their families in their homes or in places where they had sought refuge, while others died while carrying out their duties in offices, shelters, and the communities they served.
The Secretary-General emphasized that these tragedies weigh heavily on everyone and should be remembered by the entire world. He stressed that UN personnel must never be targeted, stating that attacks on peacekeepers and humanitarian workers violate international law, including international humanitarian law. He reaffirmed the UN's commitment to the safety and security of its staff and said the organization would continue to demand accountability.
Guterres noted that, in line with long-standing practice, the UN had sought the consent of families before reading aloud the names of those being honored. However, he mentioned that in the case of many UNRWA staff members, families could not be reached because they had also been killed or forced to flee. He said those staff members would instead be remembered through their work, including teachers who educated children, medical workers who treated the sick and injured, and drivers who delivered aid.
Reflecting on his final annual staff memorial as Secretary-General, Guterres said UN personnel had continued to serve through a global pandemic, economic upheaval, climate chaos, and brutal conflicts. He remarked that the staff members being remembered represented the values at the heart of the United Nations: courage, compassion, and commitment.
Guterres concluded by committing to carrying their work forward, thanking the departed colleagues and friends for making the world a better place, and pledging to remember them now and always.