The Nepal Army is preparing contingency plans to rescue Nepali peacekeepers deployed in Syria and Lebanon should the situation deteriorate further.
The ongoing conflict between the militant group Hezbollah and Israel in Lebanon has created a slightly uncomfortable situation for some Nepali peacekeepers deployed under the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL). Currently, 877 Nepali peacekeepers are stationed in Lebanon as part of UNIFIL, while 452 are deployed at a border point in Syria.
During the UN Day 2024 celebrations at Nepal Army Headquarters, Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli commended the bravery of peacekeepers worldwide, particularly those currently serving with UNIFIL in Lebanon. He acknowledged their unwavering dedication and fearlessness in confronting increasingly complex challenges, stating that their efforts embody the true spirit of peacekeeping and inspire the global community to uphold peace and security.
The Prime Minister also said that Nepal has fully endorsed the “Declaration of Shared Commitments” in support of the “Action for Peacekeeping” (A4P) initiative and its enhanced version, the “A4P Plus Initiative,” led by the United Nations.
Nepal is the largest contributor to peacekeeping, having deployed over 171,000 personnel across 52 missions in 41 countries on four continents from 1958 to 2024. As of now, Nepal has 6,141 personnel serving in 14 missions across 14 countries.
By – Sweta Singh (Kathmandu)