UN Peacekeepers Day

It was the Canadian Prime Minister, Lester B. Pearson, that recommended the establishment of UN peacekeeping missions. The first armed UN peacekeeping force was used in the Suez Canal conflict to supervise withdrawal of invading forces and act as buffer between Egyptians and Israelis. Today, over 50 years later, the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations currently has 15 missions on three continents. More than 53,000 personnel - about 49,000 troops and military observers and 4,800 civilian police - serve as peacekeepers alongside 3,500 international civilians, 7,200 local civilians and some 1,440 UN Volunteers.

There are increased demands on the UN's to maintain peace around the world. The number of uniformed peacekeeping personnel could reach 70,000 by the end of the year. A peacekeeping mission in Haiti is set to begin next week, another for Burundi was recently approved and a Sudan mission is in the works.

Related stories: UN Press Release, UN peace troops arrive in Haiti, Sudan "looking to Darfur peace", UN takes over Burundi peace role