As a leading contributor to UN peacekeeping, Nepal sends courageous personnel to the world’s most challenging conflict zones, embodying resilience and hope.
Nepal has nurtured generations of quiet heroes who march far from home to keep the world’s fragile peace intact. As of late 2023, the nation proudly stands as the largest contributor to United Nations peacekeeping missions, with 6,247 personnel serving in some of the most troubled regions globally. Behind this achievement is a foundation of rigorous preparation and training, ensuring that Nepal’s peacekeepers are ready to face the world’s toughest challenges.
Each peacekeeper goes through meticulous training to be well-equipped to handle conflict in the most difficult corners of the world. The Birendra Peace Operations Training Centre, in Kavre, prepares them with physical training and addressing etiquette.
The history of peacekeeping operations in Nepal started in 1958 with the deployment of five military observers to Lebanon. Nepali forces left an unbeatable impression in over 44 missions across continents, marking their transition to a long-term commitment. The Purano Gorakh Battalion’s dispatch to Egypt in 1974 was the first milestone. Since then, thousands of Nepali peacekeepers have answered the call of duty, leaving the comfort of home for the unknown terrains of conflict.
- Nepal is the largest contributor to UN peacekeeping missions in 2023.
- Over 2,500 Nepali women have served in peacekeeping roles.
- Peacekeeping is a legacy of sacrifice, with 73 Nepali lives lost since 1958.
The Faces and Forces of Change
Behind every deployment statistic lies an overlooked human story. Consider Captain Poonam Khadka, a senior medical officer who recently returned from the blistering heat of Darfur, Sudan, where she had to navigate challenges only a few could imagine. Her duties were a mix of a delicate balance: ensuring care for the patients in the field hospital while spearheading health promotion campaigns in the affected communities, including the Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps.
More than a mere path of service, her journey is a process of successful rehabilitation. Since the Gender Focal Person for her contingent was Captain Khadka, she took on the responsibility to ensure women and children in the camps understood the importance of hygiene in preventing waterborne diseases.
“Coming from a society where many women are still waiting for opportunities, I am proud to see Nepali women stepping beyond those barriers. We are proving that courage and compassion know no boundaries.” She shares with pride.
Poonam belongs to the 10 percent of Nepal’s peacekeeping personnel who are women, and the number is steadily rising. Unbound by gender norms, over 2,500 have joined the mission so far, proving compassion and courage.
It is tough to be away from family and face harsh climates like the heat and sandstorms in Darfur, but the challenges pale in comparison to the glory Punam feels representing Nepal on a global stage. “It’s not just about peacekeeping; it’s about showcasing the strength and resilience of our people.” ” She adds.
Sacrifice and Legacy Beyond Borders.
But peacekeeping has not been without sacrifice. Seventy-three Nepali peacekeepers have lost their lives, with 68 others injured, since the first deployment. These costs of peacekeeping do not hit the headlines but remain buried deep in the hearts of many families and the nation.
Yet, it is precisely this quiet sacrifice that defines Nepal’s peacekeeping story—a story not of grand celebrations or loud applause, but of courage and determination. Ordinary people, like Captain Poonam Khadka, step into extraordinary roles to bring hope to the world’s most fragile corners. For them, peace isn’t just a mission—it’s a way of life, shaped by resilience, compassion, and an unshakeable sense of duty. While medals serve as recognition, their legacy lies in the lives they change.