UNIFIL
United Nations Interim Force In Lebanon

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Patrolling is an integral part of UNIFIL’s daily operational tempo aimed at ensuring peace and stability in South Lebanon. There are different types of patrols the peacekeepers conduct: motorised patrols, foot patrols, as well as air and sea patrols. There is, however, less known type – so called “snow patrols” conducted in mountainous areas during wintertime. Recently UNIFIL Radio joined one of such patrols performed by Indian peacekeepers…

Hussein Ramadan a farmer from Froun village in south Lebanon says that he owes it to a UNIFIL Finnish peacekeeper, Tom Kjällman, that he is still alive. It was in 1985 that an explosion thundered under the feet of the Lebanese farmer when he inadvertently entered a minefield. UNIFIL peacekeepers saved him then, although one rescuer, a young soldier from Finland, paid the ultimate price for his bravery. Here is the link to full story in SoundCloud…

"Women in the minefield” is still a rare phenomenon world over. Zeina Saleh, from the United Nations Mine Action Service operating in south Lebanon, is among those few women undertaking a job that can be deadly. Recently Zeina, together with six other young women working for UNMAS around the world, was given the UN Secretary General Award after she became a qualified Explosive Ordnance Disposal Operator. With their commitment and courage, these…

For the first time in its history, since gaining independence in 1991, the Republic of Kazakhstan is taking part in a UN peace operation. On 31 October 2018, 120 Kazakh troops joined UNIFIL. They have been deployed in a south-eastern corner of Lebanon, close to Shab’a Farms, and formed a joint team with the UNIFIL Indian battalion. How does this scheme – dubbed also as an example of south-south cooperation – work? More details about their task in…

They have been working hand-in-hand for more than 13 years, the Lebanese Navy and UNIFIL Maritime Task Force. Since the very first moment when the first naval component in the history of UN peacekeeping operations was deployed in 2006, it has been providing all possible support to the Lebanese Navy not only in monitoring territorial waters but also in building its capabilities. The results of such cooperation, remarkable in themselves, allow…

More women among peacekeepers is key to UNIFIL’s efficiency, impact and credibility. Overall, though, improving the women-to-men ratio among civilian staff have fared better than among their military counterparts. Against this background, UNIFIL Nepalese peacekeepers have made an important step towards better women representation in their operational activities by initiating a women-led patrol. Here is the link to full story in SoundCloud.

Astronaut – Engineer Paolo Nespoli has been three times on the orbit of Earth. Going there was his long-time dream and it took him a while to materialize it. His way to stars begun in his native Italy. Though, Lebanon where he served as a peacekeeper played, in his own words, an important part in his transformation from a soldier into an astronaut. We caught up with him during his recent visit to UNIFIL Headquarters in Naqoura. Here is the link…

“We have a lot of history in Lebanon. For us, Fijians, UNIFIL was the first peacekeeping mission which we joined on 12th of June 1978. It was right before our very eyes the South, a land of conflicts, has turned into a calm and stable area and we would like to think that we have also contributed to this,” says Major Semi Soko Baravilala, Commanding Officer of UNIFIL’s last Fijian contingent. Here is the link to full story in SoundCloud (in Arabic…

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<p style="text-align:start">For the past nine months, the south of Lebanon has seen continuous exchanges of fire across the Blue Line, with the current level of exchanges now higher than they were in the beginning. Destruction, death, injury, and large-scale population relocation are the reality on the ground. Since October, in addition to performing its mandated tasks, UNIFIL and its national contingents have put an extra effort to assist the local communities in south Lebanon with medical, dental, veterinary, and educational support, as well as other kinds of assistance, to alleviate the hardships of the people who remained in their villages during these exceptionally challenging times.</p>

<p><a href="https://on.soundcloud.com/EbJ2bDUJQX7hRwEt8&quot; rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank"><strong><i>Here is the link to full story in SoundCloud</i></strong></a></p>

<p style="text-align:start"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Aptos, sans-serif"><span style="color:#212121"><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="font-weight:400"><span style="white-space:normal"><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:14pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri, sans-serif"><span style="line-height:1.2">As part of UNIFIL support to the state entities in south Lebanon, particularly during these exceptionally challenging times, recently the French peacekeepers conducted a joint training with Civil Defense firefighters of Tyre. UNIFIL’s cooperation with the Lebanese Civil Defense, that carries out firefighting, search and rescue activities across the country, dates back to 2008 and has encompassed a plethora of support interventions ranging from equipping of the existing Civil Defense facilities to facilitation of joint exercises and training courses.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p style="text-align:start"><a href="https://on.soundcloud.com/MwDECAeZ52mqxV736&quot; rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">&nbsp;<strong><i>Here is the link to full story in SoundCloud</i></strong></a></p>

<p class="paragraph" style="text-align:start"><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;, serif"><span style="color:#212121"><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="font-weight:400"><span style="white-space:normal"><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="vertical-align:baseline"><span style="font-family:Aptos, sans-serif">Each year, on May the 29<sup>th</sup>, UNIFIL commemorates the International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers. It's a day dedicated to recognizing the dedication and sacrifices of the women and men who serve tirelessly for peace across the globe. Traditionally, the mission organizes a gathering at its headquarters in Naqoura, bringing together peacekeepers, national and local officials, as well as members of the Lebanese Armed Forces and other security agencies. However, this year, </span>due to the security situation and the ongoing exchanges of fire in the south<span style="font-family:Aptos, sans-serif">, the mission did not hold a physical event. Instead, UNIFIL's Head of Mission and Force Commander, Lieutenant General Aroldo Lázaro, addressed the peacekeepers serving in south Lebanon.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p class="paragraph" style="text-align:start"><a href="https://soundcloud.com/unifilradio/peacekeepers-day-amidst-adversity?si… style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;, serif"><span style="color:#212121"><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="font-weight:400"><span style="white-space:normal"><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="vertical-align:baseline">&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><strong><i>Here is the link to full story in SoundCloud</i></strong></a></p>

<p style="text-align:start">In this episode of “Salam from the South”, UNIFIL Spokesperson Andrea Tenenti will provide a comprehensive overview of the latest developments in south Lebanon, and the role the mission is playing during the current crisis in de-escalating the situation.</p>

<p><a href="https://on.soundcloud.com/p3EYWMRYZsJxE9ueA&quot; rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank"><strong><i>Here is the link to full story in SoundCloud</i></strong></a></p>

<p class="p1">Over the past 46 years, since UNIFIL was deployed in south Lebanon in 1978, the mission and its peacekeepers have developed strong bonds with the communities in which they live and work. Amidst recent exchanges of fire along the Blue Line starting October the 8th, UNIFIL has consistently urged the parties to respect their commitments under resolution 1701 and has maintained its operational activities aimed at lowering tensions and preventing escalation. Furthermore, UNIFIL has been actively assisting the local community with medical, dental, veterinary, and educational support, as well as other kinds of assistance, while ensuring humanitarian access to the most affected. UNIFIL Head of Mission and Force Commander Lieutenant General Aroldo Lázaro continually stresses the vital importance of addressing the needs of local communities during these difficult times.</p>

<p class="p1"><a href="https://soundcloud.com/unifilradio/extending-a-helping-hand-to-the-loca…; rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank"><strong><i>Here is the link to full story in SoundCloud</i></strong></a></p>

<p>UNIFIL Deputy Spokesperson Kandice Ardiel sits down with Salam from the South to provide a comprehensive overview of the latest developments in south Lebanon.</p>

<p><a href="https://on.soundcloud.com/XcYoTNhdgJSndRQz9&quot; rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank"><strong><i>Here is the link to full story in SoundCloud</i></strong></a></p>

<p style="text-align:start"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri, sans-serif"><span style="color:#212121"><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="font-weight:400"><span style="white-space:normal"><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="line-height:1.2">Since the exchanges of fire began along the Blue Line on October 8<sup>th</sup>, the situation has drastically changed in south Lebanon. And after 17 years of unprecedented stability, UNIFIL peacekeepers now operate under very different and more difficult conditions than before. But still, they are performing their mandated activities under UN Security Council Resolution 1701 to restore security and stability along the Blue Line and prevent the outbreak of a wider and more devastating conflict. Peacekeeping patrols are a critical part of this. UNIFIL Head of Mission and Force Commander Lt. Gen. Aroldo Lázaro says </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="line-height:1.2">ensuring peacekeepers’ ability to move within their area of operation is essential for the effective implementation of </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="line-height:1.2">UNIFIL’s</span></span><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="line-height:1.2"> mandate.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p style="text-align:start"><a href="https://soundcloud.com/unifilradio/unifil-freedom-of-movement?si=8e5aee…; rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong><i>Here is the link to full story in SoundCloud</i></strong></a></p>

<p>Our trip began on a Monday morning in Naqoura, as we make our way to a base home to Ghanaian peacekeepers in Al Qawzah, southwestern Lebanon, along the Blue Line. The road, once bustling with activity, now lies deserted. All we meet was destruction in the distance as we pass through Alma Shaab, Dhaira, Yarin, and Al Bustan. We arrive at the peacekeeping base, where Lieutenant Colonel Frank Agyeman, the Ghanaian battalion Commander, greets us outside his office. Fortunately, the morning saw a decrease in the exchanges of fire along the Blue Line. It is not always the case.</p>

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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…

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