Layout option 1: Grid display, horizontal block, links to media item
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…
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…
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…
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…
The fury of the virus illustrates the folly of war. 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. Here is the link to full story in SoundCloud.
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. Here is the link to full story in SoundCloud.
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…
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…
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. Here is the link to full story in SoundCloud.
Layout option 2: Grid display, default layout (no option to show title)
<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>
Layout option 3: Grid display, Vertical card (no option to hide default image)
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…