The United Nations has been running peace-keeping missions around the world for more than 70 years. Since then, more than 38-hundred 'blue helmets' have been killed-in-action. And those lives are now remembered. CGTN's Nick Harper reports from New York.

Honouring the fallen. The United Nations secretary-general paid tribute to the peacekeepers. It's the day that recognizes the value of peacekeeping, but also its cost.

ANTONIO GUTERRES UN SECRETARY-GENERAL "More than one million men and women have served under the blue flag of the United Nations. The vast majority have returned home to their countries and their loved ones. Today, we honor the memory of those who didn't."

Of the 14 active peacekeeping missions, those in Mali, South Sudan and the Central African Republic are among the deadliest the UN has ever undertaken.

NICK HARPER NEW YORK "There are more than 100,000 peacekeeping personnel deployed around the world. This international day pays tribute to their service. But it also remembers the 98 peacekeepers who have died in the line of duty in the last year alone."

They were awarded posthumous medals. The highest honor going to Malawian soldier Chancy Chitete who died rescuing a fellow peacekeeper in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

JEAN-PIERRE LACROIX UNDER-SECRETARY-GENERAL FOR PEACEKEEPING OPERATIONS "Private Chitete's heroism and sacrifice is an important reminder to what we owe to these men and women who put their lives on the line every day in the service of peace."

Other peacekeepers were honored for their continued service. But despite these sacrifices, the UN peacekeeping budget is under continued strain with bills not paid on time. The UN ended 2018 with $2 billion dollars still owed by member states. The secretary-general has warned 'frequent cash constraints' make the work of protecting civilians and upholding peace a harder challenge. Nick Harper, CGTN, New York.