The late Warrant Officer Class One Niko Ralagi, a Fijian UN Peacekeeper who died whilst serving at the UN Disengagement Observer Force in Syria last year has been honoured with the Dag Hammarskjold medal at the United Nations Headquarters in New York.

The medal was received by Fiji's Ambassador to the United Nations, Doctor Satyendra Prasad.

The medal was presented by the UN Secretary-General, Antonio Gueterres to recognise the sacrifice of the late Niko Ralagi, who had a very distinguished career with the RFMF and had served in various UN Peacekeeping Missions.

Before his untimely death in United Nations Disengagement Observer Force, Ralagi was a Senior Operation Warrant Officer at the RFMF Operation Cell at the Land Force Command Headquarters.

The late Ralagi is survived by his wife, Salanieta Ralagi and five children.

Over the years, UN Peacekeeping operations has seen more than 3000 deaths in the various Peacekeeping Missions globally.

The medal ceremony is part of the UN International Peacekeeping Day celebrated in New York each year.

This year, the United Nations is also celebrating its 70th year of Peacekeeping.

It coincides with Fiji's celebration of its 40-years of contribution to UN Peacekeeping globally.

Ambassador Prasad was accompanied to the medal ceremony by Colonel Manoa Gadai, Military and Police Advisor at the Fiji Mission in New York.