Abidjan, 25 September 2009... The United Nations Operation in Côte d'Ivoire (UNOCI), on Friday, paid tribute to Sergeant Abdul Majeed, a Pakistani peacekeeper, who died on 20 September 2009 in Abidjan where he had been evacuated after an accident.

"The Pakistani engineers lost a brave soldier, an enthusiastic professional in love with a job well done," declared Lieutenant Colonel Farouqui, during a funeral ceremony presided over by the Principal Deputy Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Côte d'Ivoire, Abou Moussa, in the presence of the Deputy Force Commander, General Benjamin Kusi and several officers and non-commissioned officers, as well as UNOCI's civilian staff.

Sergeant Abdul Majeed died as a result of multiple injuries, which he suffered when he fell from a roof he was repairing in Bouaké, on 8 September 2009. Aged 40, married and father of five children, the Pakistani peacekeeper will be buried in his native country.

Sergeant Majeed's death brings to 42 the number of soldiers who have died since the deployment of the mission, on 4 April 2004. UNOCI presents its sincere condolences to the family of the deceased and the Pakistani Government.