On Peacekeepers’ Day, spotlight shifts to peace and the future of UN missions

Conflict. Hunger. Displacement. The Democratic Republic of the Congo is in the grip of one of the world’s worst humanitarian emergencies. The United Nations is on the ground—and with them are UN Volunteers: supporting peacekeepers, keeping essential services running, and standing with communities in crisis. On the International Day of UN Peacekeepers, we honour the volunteers who work in peacekeeping missions. As funding challenges grow, UN Volunteers stand with the blue helmets on the frontlines, keeping hope alive and peace in motion.

In early 2024, as violence escalated near Goma, dozens of civilians and soldiers found refuge in UN compounds. Supporting them, Souleymane Diallo, UN Volunteer Legal Adviser from Burkina Faso with the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO). He quickly helped organize a response. Drawing on his legal training, he and his team created a simple code of conduct for the shelter sites and translated it into French and Swahili so everyone could understand it. 

Souleymane Diallo (right) UN Volunteer with MONUSCO, interacts with a colleague. UNV, 2025.

Souleymane Diallo continues to guide peacekeepers and police on how to treat detainees and when force can be used—making sure their actions respect international humanitarian law.“Souleymane is always ready to mobilize in urgent situations. He immediately guided the Force when civilians and soldiers came for shelter,” said Jessica Davila Ardittis, Legal Officer, MONUSCO.

Just outside the frontlines, engineers keep the basics running. Cécile Rosset, a water and sanitation expert from France, arrived in Goma in 2023 and now leads MONUSCO’s efforts to keep clean water flowing. When fighting broke out last year, she and 200 staff were trapped at the Lavasite base for a week under near-constant shelling. Still, her team kept the water running, fixed broken pipes, and treated wastewater for over 1,200 displaced people and peacekeepers. A UN Volunteer Water and Sanitation Engineer with MONUSCO, she also helped set up emergency water and sewage services at camps like Jambaar and RVA. 

Beyond the frontlines, Cécile Rosset's part of the ELSIE initiative—working to improve sanitation for women and make sure they have a voice in peace operations.“We had to keep clean water flowing and waste systems working while bullets flew outside. Stopping wasn’t an option.”  

Cécile Rosset, UN Volunteer with MONUSCO takes refuge in a container. @UNV, 2024.

In Bunia, support looks different. Natacha Gilabi, UN Volunteer Community-Based Protection Assistant with the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), works with local groups to help communities protect themselves in an area shaken by violence. She reviews reports, joins field visits with partners like INTERSOS and AIDES, and helps train people on how to prevent gender-based violence and report abuse. She also plays a key role in getting hygiene supplies—like dignity kits—to women and girls. In Djugu territory alone, she helped deliver essentials to more than 9,600 women and girls, reducing the risks they face just to survive.

In Djugu territory alone, Natacha Gilabi helped deliver essentials to more than 9,600 women and girls, reducing the risks they face just to survive.“Having these basic hygiene items helps them feel safer and more in control of their lives.” 

Today, more than 350 UN Volunteers are working with UN agencies and MONUSCO across the country. Whether it’s offering legal advice, fixing vital infrastructure, or supporting women and girls, they’re keeping peace and hope alive—one action at a time. While we honour the heroes of peace, we also draw attention to a renewed call to support the UN’s ‘blue helmets’ and prevent the most serious consequences of escalating funding cuts.