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236 - Salam from the South – Peacekeepers Day (in English) | 13 June 2022

UNIFIL Head of Mission and Force Commander Major-General Aroldo Lazaro paid tribute to the bravery and commitment of those served and serving peace at the ceremony held at the Naqoura headquarters on occasion of the International Peacekeepers Day. He added the strong relationship with the Lebanese Armed Forces has proven critical to maintaining calm and stability in our area of operations and along the Blue Line.

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235 - Salam from the South – Together we can do more (in English) | 27 May 2022

UNIFIL supports the community and Lebanese governmental institutions, especially during the unprecedented economic crisis the country is facing. Recently, the Lebanese Civil Defense regional training center for the Nabatieh governorate was inaugurated in Bourj Al Mulouk village. Its construction was funded by UNIFIL, but the project was actually the result of joint efforts by many participants. Here is the link to full story in SoundCloud

234 - Salam from the South – Cambodians in the Minefield (in English) | 16 May 2022

Past military conflicts have left south Lebanon with many unexploded mines, bombs, and other ordinances. Lands around Meis El Jabal village close to the Blue Line were especially heavily affected. The situation has been drastically changed since UNIFIL Cambodian de-miners went there in May 2021. They helped to put abandoned agricultural fields into use again to the benefit of the local farmers.

233- Salam from the South - Harnessing Solar Energy (in English) | 19 April 2022

The demand for solar power projects has increased rapidly in the last two years due to the economic crisis in Lebanon. Recently, UNIFIL’s Finnish contingent in cooperation with the municipality of Bani Hayan village implemented a solar project that provides the municipal building with 25 amperes of green energy

232- Salam from the South - Irish Veteran (in English) | 04 April 2022

Sergeant Major Stan Hurley from UNIFIL’s Irish contingent first came to Lebanon in 1983. Since then, he has served as a peacekeeper in many other places, but over the years he kept returning to Lebanon. This current and final tour of duty is his 10th tour in Lebanon out of 18 overseas tours of duty in his long military career.

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231- Salam from the South - Blida Project (in English) | 14 March 2022

UNIFIL’s Nepalese peacekeepers, in cooperation with the local authorities, funded a major agricultural and public garden project in the village of Blida. The project, built in an open field close to the Blue Line, comprises rainwater ponds and recreational area. This project will irrigate nearby fields while also serving as a community meeting hub. It will benefit thousands of Blida residents.

230- Salam from the South - Women In Blue Helmets (in English) | 07 March 2022

Women have made enormous contributions in peacekeeping. Among UNIFIL’s 10,000 soldiers there are many women in uniform leading patrols, working with local communities, removing landmines, and providing medical care, among other roles. This Radio story is about two female peacekeepers performing some of the most challenging duties in south Lebanon.

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UNIFIL is in south Lebanon upon the request of the Lebanese Government and has been working to maintain relative stability and security along the Blue Line and throughout its area of operations since 2006. However, over these 16-plus years, the mission has also actively been helping and supporting the local communities amongst whom they live and work. Recently, as part of this ongoing support to communities, UNIFIL implemented two projects hand in hand with stakeholders in the Hasbaya and Marjayoun districts. The projects aim to improve people’s livelihood, especially amid the stifling economic and social crisis afflicting the country.

The farmers in Meiss Al Jabal village in south Lebanon received 10 plots of land cleared of the deadly threat of mines and other explosive ordinances after two years of humanitarian demining works done in the village. This came as a result of joint efforts by the UN Mine Action Service, UNIFIL deminers, and the Lebanon Mine Action Center.

What many people may not realize is that alongside the roughly 10,000 peacekeeping troops currently serving with UNIFIL, there are also about 800 civilian staff that work hard to keep the peacekeeping mission going. In our previous Radio episode, we talked about the Lebanese civilian staff members working in UNIFIL. Today, we will introduce you to the international civilian staff members serving with their Lebanese colleagues to support the mission. Three of the international staff we will talk to today will share with us a little bit of their journey with the United Nations around the world and with UNIFIL, serving for peace in south Lebanon.

<a href="https://on.soundcloud.com/6rb7x" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Here is the link to full story in SoundCloud</a>

Since the mission arrived in south Lebanon in 1978, hundreds of thousands of UN peacekeepers have served with UNIFIL, including the roughly 10,000 peacekeeping troops currently present.  What people may not realize is that UNIFIL also has civilian staff members that work to support the mission and its complex operations. There are currently about 800 civilian peacekeepers working in UNIFIL, most of whom are Lebanese. In our episode today we will introduce you to three of UNIFIL’s Lebanese civilian peacekeepers. They will share with us their experience and insights into serving for peace in their own home country.

<a href="https://on.soundcloud.com/h28z5">Here is the link to full story in SoundCloud</a>

“Crime Scene Investigation and Forensic Scene” training was organized in in UNIFIL headquarters in Naqoura. The training course brought together members of the Internal Security Forces Investigative Unit and UNIFIL Carabinieri or Italian military police operating within UNIFIL. This training offered a good platform to exchange expertise between peacekeepers and ISF personnel.

<a href="https://soundcloud.com/unifilradio/unifil-and-isf-exchange-expertise?si…; rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Here is the link to full story in SoundCloud</a>

UNIFIL Head of Mission and Force Commander Major General Aroldo Lázaro says, “The 75th anniversary of UN Peacekeeping operations is an occasion to pay tribute to all the peacekeepers, women and men, who over the past 75 years have served for peace throughout the world”.