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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-scale dislocation of the population. And people already facing challenges because of the economic crisis continue to suffer. UNIFIL Chief of Staff Brigadier General Cedric du Gardin has seen the immense transformation in south…
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 from the United Nations Truce Supervision Organization (UNTSO), UNIFIL’s continued patrolling activities amid the increase of tension along the Blue Line, as well as the relationship between UNIFIL peacekeepers and the people…
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 that year, in a Tripartite meeting, a Liaison and Coordination Arrangement was agreed by UNIFIL, the Lebanese Armed Forces and the Israel Defense Forces. Since then, UNIFIL has acted as a mediator between the two sides, and…
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. In addition to their operational activities under UN Security Council Resolution 1701, UNIFIL peacekeepers have also been helping the local communities with different kinds of support, including development projects and…
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 violently interrupted. Destruction, deaths, injuries, and large-scale population relocation are the current reality. Despite all that, UNIFIL and its peacekeepers remain committed to their mission in pursuit of eventual peace, and…
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 Nations peacekeeping force in the south, has of course been following developments closely, as the mission works to de-escalate tensions and restore stability to the region. We were able to sit down with him recently to find out…
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 challenges. Here is the link to full story in SoundCloud
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 UNIFIL personnel, military and civilian, must stay inside UN bases. So, the scheduled patrol by Italian peacekeepers this morning has to wait until the situation gets calmer. After two hours, the patrol gets the permission to…
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 under UN Security Council Resolution 1701 to restore stability along the Blue Line and prevent the outbreak of a wider and more devastating conflict. Patrolling is a critical part of these operational activities. Here is the…
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 UNIFIL acts as a mediator. Since October 8th, this mechanism became central to the mission’s work. The two conflicting parties have been communicating with UNIFIL’s Head of Mission and Force Commander, Lt. General Aroldo Lazaro…
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<p>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 together with the Lebanese Armed forces in the remote Shab’a area.</p>
<p><small><b><i><a href="https://soundcloud.com/unifilradio/snow-patrol-in-english?in=unifilradi…; rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Here is the link to full story in SoundCloud.</a></i></b></small></p>
<p>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. </p>
<p><small><b><i><a href="https://soundcloud.com/unifilradio/a-finnish-martyr-in-english?in=unifi…; rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Here is the link to full story in SoundCloud.</a></i></b></small></p>
<p>"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 women not only completed their training successfully, but also challenged obsolete gender norms. </p>
<p><small><b><i><a href="https://soundcloud.com/unifilradio/zeina-saleh-in-english?in=unifilradi…; rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Here is the link to full story in SoundCloud.</a></i></b></small></p>
<p>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 the following episode. </p>
<p><small><b><i><a href="https://soundcloud.com/unifilradio/novice-at-peacekeeping-in-english?in… is the link to full story in SoundCloud.</a></i></b></small></p>
<p>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 Lebanon to ensure its maritime safety. </p>
<p><small><b style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 14.6667px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><i><span style="color: rgb(0, 112, 192);"><a href="https://soundcloud.com/unifilradio/ensuring-maritime-safety">Here is the link to full story in SoundCloud.</a></span></i></b></small></p>
<p>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.<span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-size-adjust: auto;"> </span></p>
<p><small><b style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 14.6667px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><i><span style="color: rgb(0, 112, 192);"><a href="https://soundcloud.com/unifilradio/nepalese-female-patrol">Here is the link to full story in SoundCloud.</a></span></i></b></small></p>
<p><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px; text-size-adjust: auto;">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. </span></p>
<p><small><b style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><i><span style="color: rgb(0, 112, 192);"><a href="http://bit.ly/2mUi0Bx">Here is the link to full story in SoundCloud.</a></span></i></b></small></p>
<p>“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.</p>
<p><a href="https://soundcloud.com/unifilradio/w3y2et5ysxed?in=unifilradio/sets/sal… is the link to full story in SoundCloud (in Arabic).</i></b></small></a></p>
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UNIFIL and the Lebanese Army recently conducted a joint exercise, called Steel Storm, combining armoured vehicles and live fire. Joint exercises are a key part of UNIFIL’s mandate under United Nations Security Council…
UNIFIL is in south Lebanon to implement UN Security Council Resolution 1701, and part of its mandate is to support the Lebanese Armed Forces operating in the area. Recently, an operations building, as well as a briefing and…
On the occasion of the International Day of Peace, marked each year on September 21 st, UNIFIL’s Radio programme “Salam from the South” asked people around south Lebanon what they think about peace, and how can it be achieved…
UNIFIL’s main mission is to maintain peace and stability along the Blue Line and throughout its area of operations, according to Security Council resolution 1701. However, where it has the capacity and upon request from the…
Over the past two years, UNIFIL’s area of operations in south Lebanon has witnessed several events and developments. In this episode of “Salam from the South”, UNIFIL spokesperson Mr. Andrea Tenenti will shed light on the…
The unprecedented socio-economic crisis has affected south Lebanon as well as the whole country very badly. The health care system has not been spared. For that reason, UNIFIL military doctors are extending a helping hand to…
Naila Jaffal implores people to be careful around mine fields and not move the safety markers placed by UNIFIL de-mining peacekeepers. She knows the dangers all too well. A tragic mine-clearing accident in Alma Shaab village…
Since 2007, UNIFIL has regularly implemented projects in local communities to help make it easier to accomplish its mandate under UN Security Council Resolution 1701, as well as to improve the living conditions of a…
Recently the Lebanese Armed Forces new “Model Regiment” Headquarters was inaugurated in Srebbine, south Lebanon. The project funded by the European Union will house the basic components of the Model Regiment, a new infantry…