Note: Single-source report; awaiting corroboration.
The United Nations held its annual memorial service for 136 staff members who lost their lives in service in 2025, with more than half working for the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) in Gaza, the deadliest deployment in the organization's history, Secretary-General António Guterres said.
The deceased include 97 civilian personnel and 39 uniformed peacekeepers and police from 32 countries, reflecting diverse backgrounds and a shared commitment to the UN’s mission. According to Guterres, those commemorated ranged from teachers and medical workers to drivers delivering aid, many of whom died alongside their families or while performing their duties in offices, shelters, and communities.
Guterres emphasized that attacks on UN personnel, including the recent killing of a UNIFIL peacekeeper in Lebanon during renewed conflict, are violations of international humanitarian law and should shock the conscience of the world. The fallen served not only in Gaza but also in peacekeeping missions in the Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, and South Sudan.
The memorial at UN Headquarters in New York involved candle lighting, a minute of silence, and the reading aloud of the names of those who died, accompanied by a violin performance. Since 2011, the Secretary-General has hosted this annual remembrance to honor personnel who have sacrificed their lives in service to the UN.