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Olive trees have made significant contributions to the Lebanese history, culture and identity, while providing for centuries the oil for the lamps of the saints and the food for the farmers. The very same vegetation has also made quite an important contribution to building bonds of friendship between UNIFIL and the communities in south Lebanon, especially in circumstances like the one in Blida. UNIFIL Radio recently visited the south-eastern Lebanese town to highlight this special bond and to show how UNIFIL peacekeepers are working to maintain peace in the area.
UNIFIL mandate has to be approved every year at the end of August and that is exactly what happened on 28 August this year where the 15 member states of the UN Security Council were unanimous on renewing our mandate for one more year. We, in UNIFIL Radio, asked the Head of Mission and Force Commander Major General Stefano Del Col to speak on the latest renewal of UNIFIL’s mandate.
UNIFIL Chief of Staff Brig. Gen. Jean-Pierre Fagué says he is very proud of the work of UNIFIL peacekeepers in the Beirut Port and surrounding areas, carried out within a special and temporary deployment. He was speaking with UNIFIL Radio at the peak of their mission in support of Lebanese efforts in the wake of the tragic 4 August explosions that lasted from 27 September to 23 October 2020. They removed debris in the port and cleared streets and…
Summing up a search and rescue operation carried out on 14 September 2020, UNIFIL Maritime Task Force Commander, Rear Admiral Sergio Salgueirinho, says that in total the lives of 36 individuals were saved. Unfortunately, there was also another person who was not that lucky. It was a long day full of drama and self-sacrificing rescue efforts. It was not for the first time UNIFIL Maritime Task Force, deployed in 2006 at the request of the Lebanese…
UNIFIL Ghanian Battalion Commander, Lieutenant Colonel Atuluk Abbas, talks about monitoring the Blue Line or rather a part of it passing through the battalion’s area of responsibility. Despite the crisis triggered by the Coronavirus, Ghanaian peacekeepers conduct dozens of patrols daily in the southern extremes of Lebanon to maintain peace and calm in the region. Here is the link to full story in SoundCloud.
As the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has said, the legendary strength of the Lebanese people now faces an additional test. Throughout its history, the city of Beirut has been destroyed and rebuilt seven times. While still mourning the dead and those still missing, Lebanese citizens are determined to rebuild their shattered homes and businesses with the hope of bringing their city back to its former glory and the UN, and UNIFIL as a part…
Lieutenant-Colonel Ernest Nanbigne, the head of UNIFIL verification team dealing with the rotation during the COVID-19 crisis, says it was a formidable task to arrange the departure of thousands of peacekeepers who had completed their tour of duty in the south of Lebanon. And no less easy was the task of deploying thousands of new blue helmets in such a manner that would exclude the spread of the deadly virus. Nevertheless, this has been…
All along the Blue Line, almost daily, various activities take place – some of which can be misinterpreted by one or another party… The primary task of Liaison mechanism, established under the aegis of UNIFIL in December 2006, is to prevent and address any misunderstanding or a problem from escalating into a conflict between Lebanon and Israel. Liaison mechanism is not apparently visible but has proven to be extremely important for maintaining…
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<p>The International Day of UN Peacekeepers, observed globally on 29 May , offers a chance to pay tribute to the uniformed and civilian personnel’s invaluable contribution to the work of the Organization and to honour more than 3,900 peacekeepers who have lost their lives serving under the UN flag since 1948. Recently, Lebanese Prime Minister Hassan Diab visited UNIFIL Headquarters and applauded UNIFIL peacekeepers for the crucial work they have done since 1978.</p>
<p><small><b><i><a href="https://soundcloud.com/unifilradio/unifil-peacekeepers-role-applauded-i…; rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Here is the link to full story in SoundCloud.</a></i></b></small></p>
<p>Maintaining calm and stability in the UNIFIL area of operations in south Lebanon has always been of paramount importance for the Mission as a whole and for each of the Mission’s 45 contingents. The Spanish battalion is no exception. Even in the current challenging times caused by COVID-19 corona virus pandemic, they are putting a lot of efforts towards this end retaining their operational activities at the same level as before. However, the way they conduct these activities is sometimes different. More about peacekeeping in the times of crisis, UNIFIL Radio has talked to Lieutenant-Colonel Juan Alberto Rios, the Spanish Battalion Commander.</p>
<p><small><b><i><a href="https://soundcloud.com/unifilradio/peacekeeping-in-the-time-of-crisis-i…; rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Here is the link to full story in SoundCloud.</a></i></b></small></p>
<p>Soon after the outbreak of Corona virus infection, UNIFIL Head of Mission and Force Commander Major General Stefano Del Col said that “business-as-usual cannot be the norm of the day.” What kind of new normality is being born these days? How the unprecedented situation caused by COVID-19 has affected UNIFIL’s daily life and operational activities? UNIFIL Radio will be talking about it with Craig Goodwin, the head of the UNIFIL Crisis Working Group formed to contain and fight the spread of Corona virus infection.</p>
<p><small><b><i><a href="https://soundcloud.com/unifilradio/protecting-from-covid-19-scourge-in-…; rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Here is the link to full story in SoundCloud.</a></i></b></small></p>
<p><span style="color: rgb(23, 24, 26); font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">From the beginning of the current crisis UNIFIL Head of Mission and Force Commander Major General Stefano Del Col instructed to divert the use of funds from some projects to provide support to the local communities in the common fight against COVID-19 corona virus. Recently such help, comprising masks, gloves, hand sanitizers, other personal protective equipment, and chlorine solution, was given to Marjayoun Caza municipality and Lebanese state institutions operating in the area. Similar donations have been presented to other communities in the South as part of UNIFIL’s broader efforts to assist the local population. </span></p>
<p><small><b><i><a href="https://soundcloud.com/unifilradio/united-against-the-virus-in-english?…; rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Here is the link to full story in SoundCloud.</a></i></b></small></p>
<p><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-size: 16px; line-height: inherit; font-family: Arial, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(32, 31, 30); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">The fury of the virus illustrates the folly of war. </span><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-size: 16px; line-height: inherit; font-family: Arial, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Echoing the call of the UN chief for global ceasefire in the midst of COVID19 pandemic and in accordance with the UN Security Council resolution 1701, UNIFIL has reiterated its call for Lebanon and Israel to support a permanent ceasefire and a long-term solution to the conflict.</span></p>
<p><small><b><i><a href="https://soundcloud.com/unifilradio/sg-appeal-for-peace-in-english?in=un…; rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Here is the link to full story in SoundCloud.</a></i></b></small></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">In the face of global COVID-19 Coronavirus pandemic, UNIFIL Head of Mission and Force Commander Major General Stefano Del Col says business-as-usual cannot be the norm of the day and the unprecedented situation warrants exceptional measures. </span></p>
<p><small><b><i><a href="https://soundcloud.com/unifilradio/unifil-head-of-mission-and-force-com…; rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Here is the link to full story in SoundCloud.</a></i></b></small></p>
<p>The mere presence of over 11,000 peacekeepers – including the Mission’s both military and civilian peacekeepers – and thousands of the Lebanese Armed Forces officers and soldiers, deployed in south Lebanon under the Security Council Resolution 1701, has enhanced the safety in the area, giving the local people an opportunity to live a normal life. It’s not a small feat – especially in an area beset by cycles of conflicts until 2006. In our story we will try to sum up what has been achieved during the last 42 years since 19th of March 1978 when UNIFIL was established.</p>
<p><small><b><i><a href="https://soundcloud.com/unifilradio/unifil-turns-42-in-english?in=unifil…; rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Here is the link to full story in SoundCloud.</a></i></b></small></p>
<p>UNIFIL attaches great importance to its relations with the population it serves. There are several facets to this relationship: from informing the people of south Lebanon about UNIFIL’s mandate and activities to providing or facilitating humanitarian assistance to the extent possible. UNIFIL radio recently joined Indian peacekeepers as they set out to offer veterinary assistance to local farmers in south-eastern Lebanon. More details about their tasks in the following episode.</p>
<p><small><b><i><a href="https://soundcloud.com/unifilradio/indian-vet-in-english?in=unifilradio…; rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Here is the link to full story in SoundCloud.</a></i></b></small></p>
<p>Providing assistance to the Lebanese Armed Forces in building their capacity lies at the core of UN Security Council Resolution 1701. Following the letter and spirit of the document, UNIFIL peacekeepers from Italy, the Republic of Korea and Malaysia recently offered a 5-day long training to around 70 Lebanese Army personnel. </p>
<p><small><b><i><a href="https://soundcloud.com/unifilradio/assistance-with-capacity-building-in…; rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Here is the link to full story in SoundCloud.</a></i></b></small></p>