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270 - Salam from the South - Half a year of crisis in south Lebanon

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…

269 - Salam from the South - Question Time with Andrea Tenenti

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…

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268 - Salam from the South - Communicating to restore stability

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…

267 - Salam from the South - UNIFIL supports the local communities

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…

266 - Salam from the South - Peacekeeping in a Crisis

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…

265 - Salam from the South - Question Time with Lt. General Aroldo Lázaro

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…

264 - Salam from the South - Question Time with Andrea Tenenti

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

263 - Salam from the South – Patrolling to Restore Stability (Part 2)

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…

262- Salam from the South – Patrolling to Restore Stability (Part 1)

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…

261 - Salam from the South – Liaison and Coordination Mechanism

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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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.

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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.

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Each year, on May the 29th, 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, due to the security situation and the ongoing exchanges of fire in the south, 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.

<a href="https://soundcloud.com/unifilradio/peacekeepers-day-amidst-adversity?si… style="font-size:16px"> Here is the link to full story in SoundCloud</a>

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.

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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.

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

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Since the exchanges of fire began along the Blue Line on October 8th, 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 ensuring peacekeepers’ ability to move within their area of operation is essential for the effective implementation of UNIFIL’s mandate.

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

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.