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India criticises Security Council for failing to act on attacks on peacekeepers

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Asoke-Kumar-Mukerji

United Nations: India has criticised the Security Council for failing to take action against those attacking its peacekeepers and warned that inaction could have “dangerous implications for the maintenance of international peace and security.”

“Any lack of action by member states to penalize those who attack UN peacekeepers reflects poorly on the Security Council,” Asoke Kumar Mukerji, India’s Permanent Representative, told the Special Committee for Peacekeeping Operations Tuesday. “If the Security Council fails to deter such attacks, the very institution of UN peacekeeping will continue to be targeted across the world, with dangerous implications for the maintenance of international peace and security.”

India is invested very heavily in the safety of peacekeepers because, as Mukerji said, it is “the single largest contributor of troops to UN peacekeeping operations (PKOs), and our active participation in 11 out of the 15 active PKOs.” Currently 8,145 Indian troops, police and experts are serving in UN operations.

Several countries echoed India’s positions on the safety of peacekeepers and several other issues raised by India. Thai Military Advisor Orgrob Amarachgul, speaking on behalf of the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN), condemned the attacks on peacekeepers and said that perpetrators must be held accountable.

Mukerji referred to the several instances of attacks on peacekeepers mentioned in Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s report to the committee and said concrete action to bring those attacking peacekeepers to justice had been taken only in Darfur in Sudan and not in the others.

Ban’s report said that in the 12-months period to last December, 34 military peacekeepers were killed in attacks and 51 were wounded. In Mali alone, 27 peace-keepers were killed during that period and attacks continued with one soldier killed last month and at least eight were injured. In another operation last year, 45 peacekeepers in the observer force along the Israel-Syria border in the Golan Heghts were were abducted by the Islamic State and 72 were surrounded and confined to their base.

In his wide-ranging critique of how the Security Council runs the PKOs, Mukerji warned that the changes in the mandates of UN peacekeeping operations have raised the risk to the blue-helmeted forces in its missions, while also straining its capacity to function effectively.

He said the High Level Panel set up by Ban last year to study PKOs and recommend changes should submit its report in time for the 70th UN anniversary summit in September.

Mukerji cited the case of the mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo where the Council gave “new interventionist mandates” and reiterated New Delhi’s concern. Indian troops are deployed there.

Last year, the Council expanded the PKO’s mandate from protecting civilians and humanitarian workers to creating special brigades to carrying out offensive operations against militias making them take on an offensive role in a departure from the traditional defensive posture.

Amarchgul criticised the shift towards “proactive” peacekeeping which been done without proper debate or review of its legal implications.

Another area of concern, Mukerji said was requiring the peacekeeping troops to take on humanitarian and development programs. “These activities are essentially relevant to peacebuilding, and not peacekeeping,” he said. The two types of activities should be segregated, he added. “It is for humanitarian and developmental actors, and not military troops.”

Moroccan Ambassador Omar Hilale, who represented the Non-Aligned Movement, said the Council should draft clear, achievable mandates.

The Council’s failure to solve the underlying causes of the conflicts where its forces have been sent to maintain the peace was another area of concern, according to Mukerji. “We are alarmed by the lack of any effective action by the Security Council to address the root political causes of the crisis in South Sudan,” he said citing it as an example.

That 100,000 civilians are being sheltered in UN military bases, 1.9 million people are internal refugees, and 2.5 million people are exposed to famine even as “UN peacekeepers are laying down their lives to protect civilians in South Sudan,” he said, “places the future of UN peacekeeping in South Sudan into serious doubt.”

In the operations in Liberia, spoke of the action taken by peace-keepers, including women from India, to deal with the Ebola crisis and sought clarification on the legal implications of the Council resolution calling on all UN bodies to help the in the fight against the epidemic.

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Dr. Abhishek Verma Dedicates a Shelter in Memory of His Mother, Veena Verma, at KGMU; Inaugurated by Daughter Nicolle Verma

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World-renowned business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has supported Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission. In memory of his mother, Late Veena Verma, who was a 3 term Rajya Sabha MP.

Dr. Verma dedicated a state-of-the-art free permanent shelter for the attendants of patients at KGMU Medical University, Lucknow, under the aegis of Vijay Shree Foundation. His daughter, Nicolle Verma, inaugurated the shelter.

During the event, Foodman Vishal Singh honored Nicolle Verma by presenting her with a memento. Mrs. Nidhi Sharma and Avantika Yadav, associated with the organization, welcomed her with garlands. Following this, Nicolle Verma distributed essential items to the attendants and also handed out fruits. She became emotional remembering her grandmother on her birth anniversary.

On this occasion, she also inaugurated the “Veena Verma Sevalaya” in memory of her grandmother, Veena Verma, to serve the attendants. She expressed, “I feel proud that my family is engaged in nation-building as well as social service. Today, in collaboration with Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh Ji, I feel immensely proud to dedicate this shelter for the poor, helpless, and needy attendants of patients battling serious illnesses like cancer. I am honored to be associated with the Hunger-Free World Mission for humanity.”

Inspired by the continuous humanitarian service provided by Vijay Shree Foundation over the past 17 years, Nicolle Verma donated 10 lakh rupees to support the cause. The purpose of this donation is to ensure that services continue for the needy attendants of patients suffering from severe illnesses in hospitals, as facilitated by Foodman Vishal Singh.

It is noteworthy that Dr. Abhishek Verma’s family has a legacy of public and philanthropic service. They are helping millions to carry forward the values and service work of their parents. On the occasion of his mother’s birth anniversary, Dr. Abhishek Verma dedicated this state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College to serve the attendants of patients through the Vijay Shree Foundation.

Supporting Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission, Dr. Abhishek Verma assured that he would continually support keeping this flame of humanity alive. He also promised to assist in providing medicines to the helpless patients.

Continuing her grandmother’s legacy of service, Nicolle Verma personally served food to the needy patients and attendants. She said, “It is our good fortune to have received the joy of doing this noble work today through Foodman Vishal Singh. I have taken another step forward in carrying my family’s values and cooperation by joining hands with the Vijay Shree Foundation. My father taught me to serve and help the needy, and I feel happy when I bring a smile to someone’s face.”

On the birth anniversary of the late Veena Verma, the event organizer, Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh, said, “We feel proud and happy that Dr. Abhishek Verma, a globally renowned business tycoon, has extended his support to uplift our country from the hunger index. Today, on his mother’s birth anniversary, he inaugurated a state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College, which will always be helpful for the needy attendants of patients. It is a pleasure for me and the organization to receive the affection of Mr. Verma.”

The event was attended by General Manager Verma Family Office Hemant Garg, Sonu Rajput, and the organization’s volunteers, including Sandeep Singh, Parmeshwar Ji, Prashant Rao Gautam, Balram Singh, Ramesh Chaudhary, Suman, Jeetu, Anil, Suraj, Vinay, Manish Bhadauria, Manas Mehrotra, Vivek, Apurv, Happy, and others.

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