Since 1948 more than two million people have served as UN Peacekeepers in hotspots around the world, including more than 65,000 today.

They provide security, stability and hope for a better future to war-affected communities. And they often do so at great personal risk and under very harsh conditions, leaving their families behind thousands of hundreds of miles away from their homelands. More than 4,400 peacekeepers have lost their lives serving under the UN flag.

The United Nations does not have its own military or police force. It relies on individual UN Member States to contribute personnel to its peacekeeping operations. Today, UN peacekeepers hail from more than 100 troop and police contributing countries, but they are united in their goal to help provide security and stability to some of the most vulnerable people on earth. Collectively, they perform acts of courage and compassion every day.

Beyond their regular mandated activities – such as protecting civilians and supporting peace processes -- peacekeepers often carry out humanitarian efforts such as delivering free medical and veterinary care, providing access to water; supporting schools and orphanages; building roads and bridges and other key infrastructure which benefit communities and bring people together.

The United Nations honours the service and sacrifice of all peacekeepers and commends the contributions from all the countries that provide our peacekeeping operations with military and police personnel.

Their stories of service and sacrifice as well as courage and compassion are worth listening to.

Learn more about countries that contribute troops to UN Peacekeepers.