UNIFIL
United Nations Interim Force In Lebanon

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UNIFIL and its troop-contributing countries are proud to 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.

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.

The first United Nations naval peacekeeping force in history, UNIFIL’s MTF supports the Lebanese Navy in monitoring Lebanese territorial waters, 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.

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.

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…

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<p style="text-align:start">News from UNIFIL # 11 features UN Secretary-General António Guterres visit to Naqoura, where he commended peacekeepers and called for full adherence to Resolution 1701. The episode also covers peacekeepers’ ongoing support, including restoring a historic church, clearing road obstacles, and providing essential aid to communities in need.</p>

<p style="text-align:start">News from UNIFIL # 11 features UN Secretary-General António Guterres visit to Naqoura, where he commended peacekeepers and called for full adherence to Resolution 1701. The episode also covers peacekeepers’ ongoing support, including restoring a historic church, clearing road obstacles, and providing essential aid to communities in need.</p>

<p style="text-align:start"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="font-weight:400"><span style="white-space:normal"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.3)"><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-family:Aptos, sans-serif"><span style="color:#212121"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust:100%">In this radio episode, UNIFIL Deputy Spokesperson Kandice Ardiel comments on recent IDF violations of Resolution 1701 and the Israeli withdrawal from Naqoura, emphasizing UNIFIL’s efforts to stabilize south Lebanon. The episode also highlights humanitarian aid by UNIFIL contingents, including solar energy project by Polish peacekeepers, water supplies from Ghanaian peacekeepers, and support for returnees in Abbasiyeh by Korean peacekeepers.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Aptos,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">In this “News from UNIFIL” episode, UNIFIL Deputy Spokesperson Kandice Ardiel explains how the mission is coordinating with the Lebanese Armed Forces and Israeli Defense Forces to support the return of peace and stability to south Lebanon. The story also highlights key initiatives by peacekeepers to assist local communities, including donations to municipalities, and villages.</span></span></span></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="line-height:1.2">In this episode, Spokesperson Andrea Tenenti highlights UNIFIL’s ongoing support to local communities following the 27 November cessation of hostilities agreement. Colonel Saujanya Rana says Civil Military Cooperation teams increased outreach activities. Italian peacekeepers donate medical supplies and a 4x4 vehicle to the Tyre Red Cross, and Indian peacekeepers deliver vital healthcare in El Meri.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></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="line-height:1.2">In “News from UNIFIL” - Episode 7, Spokesperson Andrea Tenenti clarifies UNIFIL’s role under Resolution 1701. Italian and Republic of Korea peacekeepers provide essential aid to displaced communities and returnees in south Lebanon, and other news.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></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">In this episode of “News from UNIFIL”, Spokesperson Andrea Tenenti highlights the mission’s continued commitment to the implementation of Security Council Resolution 1701. We will also shed light on UNIFIL’s community support efforts: trauma-relief workshops for displaced children in Tyre, vital road repairs in south-eastern Lebanon, and water deliveries to Rmeish during the recent crisis.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></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">In Episode # 5 of “News from UNIFIL”, you can hear UNIFIL Spokesperson Andrea Tenenti’s remarks at a UN briefing in Geneva on the mission’s efforts amid escalating tensions. The episode also covers a solemn ceremony in Beirut to pay tribute to French peacekeeper, Sergeant Fany Claudin, who tragically lost her life, in addition to UNIFIL’s medical assistance to Tibnin Public Hospital.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

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<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:12pt"><span style="line-height:1.2">In this “News from UNIFIL” radio piece, we highlight UN Under-Secretary-General Jean-Pierre Lacroix’s reaffirmation of Security Council Resolution 1701 as the cornerstone for peace between Lebanon and Israel during his recent visit to Lebanon. The episode also covers UNIFIL’s humanitarian efforts amid the escalation in the conflict, including evacuations and community support, and the work of the Chinese peacekeepers in clearing unexploded ordnances to ensure safety in south Lebanon.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></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:12pt"><span style="line-height:1.2">In this News from UNIFIL episode, Deputy Spokesperson Kandice Ardiel reaffirms that UNIFIL peacekeepers will not vacate their positions near the Blue Line despite recent pressures. The episode also highlights UNIFIL’s crucial Liaison and Coordination mechanism, which has facilitated over 1,800 activities amid escalating tensions, and the mission’s support to communities in the south, with peacekeepers providing essential medical aid to displaced people.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

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<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="line-height:1.2">In this “News from UNIFIL” episode, UNIFIL Deputy Spokesperson Kandice Ardiel outlines the challenges UNIFILfaces, including limited commitment from Lebanon and Israel to implement Resolution 1701. The episode also covers recent medical supply donation to Kleyaa village, and ongoing road rehabilitation by peacekeepers to allow movements of UNIFIL troops as well as civilians in the area.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

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<p>In this “News from UNIFIL” radio story, UNIFIL Deputy Spokesperson Kandice Ardiel speaks about United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701 and the obstacles the mission has faced in implementing it over the last 18 years, UNIFIL publishes a video interview with the two Indonesian peacekeepers who were injured on October 10, UNIFIL’s evacuation of two elderly residents from Al-Qawzah, and other news.</p>

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Radar, used to detect and track ships at sea, is an important security tool for countries with extensive maritime borders, like Lebanon.
Commander Thorsten Diekmann, a senior officer in UNIFIL’s Maritime Task Force, says that Lebanese coastal radar will soon be able to see further and survey the country’s territorial waters better, thanks to an agreement between Germany and Lebanon. UNIFIL has an important part to play in the project, through training of Lebanese radar operators.

Here is the link to full story in SoundCloud.

After almost a decade-long service with UNIFIL’s Maritime Task Force, assisting Lebanese Navy in securing the country’s vast territorial waters, Brazilian peacekeepers have concluded their mission in Lebanon. The Brazilian MTF flagship, Frigate BRS Independência left Beirut Harbour on 02 December 2020. UNIFIL radio interviewed the outgoing MTF commander, Rear Admiral Sérgio Salgueirinho, who handed over the command to Rear Admiral Axel Schulz of Germany on 15 January 2021.

Here is the link to full story in SoundCloud.

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