Indian Peacekeepers Honored for Their Service in South Sudan
Recognition for Indian Peacekeepers
File photo of Indian peacekeepers during a medal parade in South Sudan, 2018-19. (Photo:X)
United Nations, Jun 2: A total of 550 Indian peacekeepers, including 53 women, serving with the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), have been recognized for their unwavering commitment to safeguarding civilians and fostering peace in the war-torn nation.
During a ceremony held in Malakal, South Sudan, 565 Indian Blue Helmets along with 464 Rwandan peacekeepers were awarded the UN Medal of Honour, as reported by UNMISS on Monday.
The term 'Blue Helmets' refers to military personnel, police officers, and civilian experts operating under the United Nations peacekeeping forces.
Major-General Junhui Wu, the Force Commander of UNMISS, stated that each medal awarded symbolizes the "courage and resilience of our brave peacekeepers, who exemplify the highest standards of discipline, operational effectiveness, and teamwork in a challenging environment."
In response to this recognition, the Permanent Mission of India to the United Nations expressed congratulations to the Indian contingent, noting that "Indian Blue Helmets have consistently maintained the highest standards of professionalism in all their operational areas," in a social media update.
India ranks as the second-largest contributor of uniformed personnel to UN peacekeeping missions, following Nepal.
Currently, India has over 4,200 military and police personnel deployed, including 155 women, across various missions in regions such as Abyei, the Central African Republic, Cyprus, Congo, Lebanon, the Middle East, Somalia, South Sudan, and Western Sahara.
Tragically, nearly 180 Indian peacekeepers have lost their lives while serving, marking the highest casualty rate among contributing nations.
Recently, on the International Day of UN Peacekeepers, Lance Havildar Harbhajan Singh, who served with the United Nations Organisation Stabilisation Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO), and Naib Subedar Sujit Kumar Pradhan, who served with UNMISS, were posthumously honored with the Dag Hammarskjold Medal for their ultimate sacrifice.
Additionally, Major Abhilasha Barak was recognized as the recipient of the 2025 Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award.