Nepali Army to mark UN Day amidst various events

Kathmandu, Oct 22: The Nepali Army is to observe the 79th Establishment Day of the United Nations by organizing various programmes at the Nepali Army Headquarters on Thursday, October 24.

The UN was established with the objective of promoting peace, unity, friendship and reconciliation in the world. Nepali Army, Nepal Police and Armed Police Force Nepal teams would present a peace march, processions, different games including Taekwondo and a joint band display in the event where Prime Minister KP Shama Oli will be the chief guest.

Nepali Army Spokesperson, Gaurav Kumar KC, said the UN Day programme going to be observed at army headquarters would disseminate a message about unity for the sake of peace, equality and collaboration.

Nepal has been receiving support in the sectors of labour, education, health, agriculture, tourism and climate through 15 specialized bodies of the UN.

Nepal started participating in the United Nations peacekeeping missions in 1958 after becoming a member of the UN in 1955. The country has been deputing peacekeepers from NA, Nepal Police and APF Nepal in the peacekeeping mission.

Nepal is the largest troops contributing nation to the UN Peacekeeping. Now, 97,000 troops from 120 nations of the world are on a peacekeeping mission at the call of the UN. A total of 5,918 security personnel including 651 women are deputed in 11 peace missions established in different countries of the world.

A total of 195 peacekeepers from APF Nepal and 28 from Nepal Police are now serving in peacekeeping missions in various countries. According to the Nepali Army, 153,654 peacekeepers have served in the peacekeeping mission so far.

Nepal started participating in the peacekeeping efforts in 1958 by sending five observers to Lebanon and sent the Purano Gorakh Battalion to Egypt in 1974. Seventy-three Nepali peacekeepers have lost their lives and 69 have sustained injuries so far.