Woman in Command! Major Jyoti Yadav commands International Contingent during UN International Peacekeepers Day

Goma (Congo), May 30: In a major development, Major Jyoti Yadav of Indian Army commanded the International Contingent during the United Nations International Peacekeepers Day ceremony at Goma, Congo.

 

"Major Jyoti Yadav of Indian Army commanded the International Contingent during the United Nations International Peacekeepers Day ceremony at Goma, Congo. The MONUSCO mission is one of the longest-running peacekeeping missions & comprises 51 Nations," the Indian Army tweeted.

 

 

The International Day of UN Peacekeepers was being observed on Sunday. For the past two decades on this day, UN Peacekeepers, also known as the Blue Helmets, are remembered by the world for their role in promoting security, peace and stability. More than one million UN peacekeepers have taken part in 72 such operations since 1948. This year, the theme is People Peace Progress: The Power of Partnerships.

 

 

It should be noted that India is the second-highest military (1,888) and fifth-highest (139) police-contributing country to the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO). India has been among the largest troop-contributing countries to the U.N. peacekeeping missions. It sent doctors and nurses to Congo in 1960 and then an all women team to Liberia in 2008. UN Resident Coordinator in India, Shombi Sharp lauded India’s role and said its core democratic ideals and values are a testimony of its capacity.

On the International Day of UN Peacekeepers, External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar today saluted the courage and dedication of the brave men and women who carry out UN Peacekeeping around the world. In a tweet, Dr Jaishankar remembered the peacekeepers who have made the supreme sacrifice in the cause of peace.

Earlier, Indian peacekeepers, as well as Blue Helmets from other nations, pushed back an attack by an armed group in Congo, a top U.N. official has said, lauding the peacekeepers’ efforts and “proactive role” in countering these assaults on the civilian population. UN Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix, responding to a question on the attack on the U.N. mission and peacekeepers from India and other nations, said "Indian peacekeepers, together with others coming from many other countries are involved" and "we appreciate that," he said.