The United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) on Monday morning held a solemn ceremony at the Mission HQ in Abyei to honor the six peacekeepers who made the ultimate sacrifice and died in the line of duty during drone attacks on their Kadugli Logistics Base on 13 December.
A press release extended to this publication said their remains have now been escorted back to Bangladesh.
“Their sacrifice for peace will never be forgotten. The entire UNISFA family stands in grief with the families of the fallen peacekeepers and the Government and people of Bangladesh,” the statement reads in part. “The injured peacekeepers, who were evacuated from Kadugli to Abyei on 13 December, will be transferred to a higher-level hospital in due course. Our top priority is to ensure that we save lives, and we are doing everything possible to provide appropriate medical care for the injured.”
UNISFA strongly condemned the horrific attack on its peacekeepers.
“We sincerely offer our condolences to the families of the deceased and the Bangladeshi government, and we wish swift and complete recovery for those injured,” the statement said. “The mission has reinforced protection measures at the logistics base to ensure the safety of its personnel and is closely coordinating with relevant stakeholders to assess the situation.”
“Our Acting Head of Mission and Force Commander, Major General Robert Yaw Affram, is visiting Kadugli (Monday) today to assess the situation and engage with the peacekeepers on the ground and relevant stakeholders,” the statement added.
UNISFA reiterated the Secretary General’s message that attacks targeting United Nations peacekeepers may constitute war crimes under international law and that those responsible will be held accountable.