UNITED NATIONS
Military and civilian officials working for the United Nations had a safer year in 2018, with 34 reported deaths as a result of malicious attacks.
The Standing Committee for the Security and Independence of the International Civil Service of the UN Staff Union reported that this was less than half the number killed in 2017.
Of the 26 peacekeepers who died last year, six each were from Bangladesh and Malawi.
The others were from Burkina Faso (three), Burundi (two), Chad (two), Mauritania (two), Tanzania (two), Niger (one), Pakistan (one) and Rwanda (one).
The eight civilian employees were from Afghanistan, Nigeria and the Central African Republic.
The greatest loss of peacekeeper life —at 11 — was in the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilisation Mission in Mali.
Eight deaths were of those involved in the UN Organisation Stabilisation Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo and seven were members of the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilisation Mission in the Central African Republic.
President of the UN Staff Union, Bibi Sherifa Khan said UN staff worked in some of the world’s most dangerous places.
“Any cut in the budget of peacekeeping operations increases the dangers for staff members and risks jeopardising the goals and objectives of the organisation,” Ms Khan said.
“When the United Nations sends its staff to work in conflict zones, it must ensure, along with member states, that the necessary resources are provided and that those who attack our colleagues are brought to justice.”
The 2018 figure is among the lowest yearly death tolls over the past several years, with 71 deaths in 2017, 32 in 2016, 51 in 2015, 61 in 2014, 58 in 2013 and 37 in 2012.
New York, 3 February 2019
