The number of Nepal Army personnel deployed in the United National peacekeeping mission has crossed the 6000-mark.

Issuing a press release on Friday, the NA Directorate of Public Relations and Information said the number of soldiers currently deployed in the UN peacekeeping mission has reached 6,016, with the latest deployment of 202 peacekeepers to the Central African Republic on December 13.

The national army’s peacekeeping operation began in 1958 with the deployment of five ‘military observers’ as part of the United Nations Observer Group in Lebanon mission. Nepal joined the UN in 1955.

The Nepal Army has so far taken part in 44 United Nations peacekeeping missions in various conflict-affected nations throughout the world, losing 71 soldiers and injuring 68 others.

At present, Nepal ranks third in the list of countries contributing troops to the United Nations, with personnel deployed in various 12 peacekeeping missions around the world.

A total of 142,585 Nepal Army personnel have participated in peacekeeping missions, including 1,982 female soldiers.