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In three different incidents in May 2021, rockets were launched from Lebanese territory towards Israel, threatening the relative calm and stability that the area has enjoyed since 2006. UNIFIL Head of Mission and Force Commander Major-General Stefano Del Col describes what happened, and how UNIFIL’s liaison and coordination mechanisms helped ensure the incidents did not escalate into conflict. Here is the link to full story in SoundCloud
There are about 120,000 peacekeepers deployed in conflict zones worldwide. Almost 10 percent of them are in south Lebanon. With their dedication and determination, they are building a peaceful environment in the area. Although permanent and stable peace is yet to be achieved, there is relative calm – South of Lebanon has been enjoying the longest period of it in its modern history. In this episode, we would like to introduce to you two young…
Liaison Branch is part of UNIFIL Liaison and Coordination Mechanism. Its Officers act as the custodians of the Blue Line and as a bridge between the two parties. With officers from 19 different countries, the Liaison Branch creates an independent and impartial mechanism to coordinate between the Lebanese Armed Forces and the Israel Defense Forces, to ensure that the parts of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701 related to military and…
Continuing UNIFIL’s efforts in helping and ensuring the full and effective participation of women in society, Sector East Civil Affairs office conducted a 15-day training for 24 female participants. The aim was to teach local women the basic principles of gardening, grafting, harvesting, and taking care of their own background gardens, to become future potential agricultural producers in their home towns. Here is the link to full story in…
Radar, used to detect and track ships at sea, is an important security tool for countries with extensive maritime borders, like Lebanon.
Commander Thorsten Diekmann, a senior officer in UNIFIL’s Maritime Task Force, says that Lebanese coastal radar will soon be able to see further and survey the country’s territorial waters better, thanks to an agreement between Germany and Lebanon. UNIFIL has an important part to play in the project, through training of Lebanese radar operators.
April 4 of every year is International Mine Awareness Day. Since 2006, UNIFIL has cleared around 4,700,000 square metres of land in south Lebanon and destroyed 43,500 mines, bombs, and unexploded ordnances. This painstaking but necessary work is currently carried out by UNIFIL’s Chinese and Cambodian contingents. Here is the link to full story in SoundCloud .
One of UNIFIL’s priorities is helping to ensure the full, effective, and meaningful participation of women in society. Recently, UNIFIL helped refurbish a vocational training room in Tyre, south Lebanon, where women learn skills in hair dressing and make-up that they can use to earn income. This project aims to give women more independence and a greater voice in their communities. Here is the link to full story in SoundCloud .
After almost a decade-long service with UNIFIL’s Maritime Task Force, assisting Lebanese Navy in securing the country’s vast territorial waters, Brazilian peacekeepers have concluded their mission in Lebanon. The Brazilian MTF flagship, Frigate BRS Independência left Beirut Harbour on 02 December 2020. UNIFIL radio interviewed the outgoing MTF commander, Rear Admiral Sérgio Salgueirinho, who handed over the command to Rear Admiral Axel Schulz of Germany on 15 January 2021.
The head of UNIFIL Civil Affairs, Albagir Adam, says the Mission’s activities aiming at supporting local communities have become even more important in the wake of the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic. To this end, Mr. Adam adds that $165,000, which is about one third of the UNIFIL fund allocated for various humanitarian projects in 2020, have been spent in community projects dealing with the pandemic. On top of this, many national contingents have…
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<p style="text-align:start; margin-bottom:11px"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:15.546667098999023px"><span style="font-family:Calibri, sans-serif"><span style="color:#000000"><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="font-weight:normal"><span style="white-space:normal"><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:14pt"><span style="line-height:19.786666870117188px"><span style="color:black"><span style="background-color:white">UNIFIL and its troop-contributing countries are proud to </span></span></span></span><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size:14pt"><span style="line-height:19.786666870117188px"><span style="color:black"><span style="background-color:white">support projects that help local people and communities – projects in health care (including COVID-19 prevention), education, the environment, food security, agriculture, and more. The Austrian contingent’s strong support for the Mosan Center for children with special needs is but one example of the close relationships UNIFIL peacekeepers have with the local community.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p>Patrolling is one of the most important activities that peacekeepers perform. Patrols allow peacekeepers to monitor the cessation of hostilities, and take note of any suspicious or unusual activity, to immediately inform Lebanese Armed Forces colleagues for action.</p>
<p style="text-align:start"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri, sans-serif"><span style="color:#000000"><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="font-weight:normal"><span style="white-space:normal"><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:14pt">The first United Nations naval peacekeeping force in history, UNIFIL’s MTF supports the Lebanese Navy in monitoring Lebanese territorial waters, <span style="color:black">securing the Lebanese coast, and preventing the unauthorized entry of arms or related materiel into Lebanon by sea. The MTF’s mission also focuses on training the Lebanese Navy so in the future it can fully perform the maritime security tasks currently supported by UNIFIL’s naval peacekeepers.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom:11px"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:15.399999618530273px"><span style="font-family:Calibri, sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="line-height:16.799999237060547px">Through the adoption of resolution 2591 renewing UNIFIL’s mandate in August 2021, the United Nations Security Council noted Lebanon’s unprecedented socio-economic and humanitarian crises. In that context, the 15-member Council requested UNIFIL to take “temporary and special measures” to support the Lebanese Army with essential items like medicine, fuel, food, and other logistics.</span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p style="text-align:start">Lebanon and Israel don’t talk to each other directly, so UNIFIL acts as a mediator. UNIFIL’s Liaison Branch is part of this mechanism. With the conflicting parties – Lebanon and Israel – still technically in a state of war, when tensions are high any violation of the Blue Line, any inadvertent movement in the area, or any imprudent remark may cause an eruption of violence. Only an enduring UNIFIL presence all along the Blue Line can ensure that the smallest incident will not escalate into a greater crisis.</p>
<p>UNIFIL is working in south Lebanon to implement UN Security Council Resolution 1701 and supporting the Lebanese Armed Forces in the area. Close cooperation between LAF and UNIFIL is of paramount importance in order to preserve calm in the area and assist local communities.</p>
<p>Under UN Security Council Resolution 1701, UNIFIL supports the Lebanese Armed Forces in providing security and stability in south Lebanon as well as enhancing their capacities and capabilities through joint activities and trainings.</p>
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More than six months have passed since the exchanges of fire along the Blue Line began. Since then, the lives of thousands of people have changed drastically. The south has witnessed destruction, deaths, injuries, and large…
In this episode, we will sit down with UNIFIL Spokesperson Andrea Tenenti to bring you the latest updates about recent developments in south Lebanon. He will give us insights into the latest incident involving peacekeepers…
When the 2006 war ended and the Security Council enhanced UNIFIL’s mandate with resolution 1701, there was a clear need for a bridge between Lebanon and Israel, since they do not talk to each other directly. On 11 December of…
Since its establishment in 1978, and then the enhancement of the mission after the 2006 war, the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) has enjoyed a very strong relationship with local communities in south Lebanon…
Since the exchanges of fire began on October 8 th, south Lebanon has gone through enormous transformation and challenges. The 17 years of unprecedented security and stability that the region had enjoyed since 2006 was…
Since the 8 th of October, daily exchanges of fire across the Blue Line have drastically changed the situation in south Lebanon. Lieutenant General Aroldo Lázaro, Head of Mission and Force Commander of UNIFIL, the United…
In this episode, UNIFIL Spokesperson Andrea Tenenti sits down with Salam from the South to provide a comprehensive overview of the latest developments in south Lebanon and what the mission is doing to address the current…
The sounds of the explosions increase as we get closer to the Italian base in Al Mansouri one January morning. The firefights along the Blue Line have grown more intense. When the exchanges of fire are close like this, all…
Since the exchanges of fire began along the Blue Line on October 8 th, UNIFIL peacekeepers have been operating within very different conditions than before. But still, they are performing the mission’s operational activities…
On 11 December 2006, in a Tripartite meeting, a Liaison and Coordination Arrangement was agreed by UNIFIL, the Lebanese Armed Forces and the Israel Defense Forces. Lebanon and Israel don’t talk to each other directly, so…