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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.

228- Salam from the South - Patrolling

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.

227- Salam from the South - Together in the Sea (in English) | 17 January 2022

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.

End of year message from UNIFIL's Head of Mission and Force Commander, Major General Stefano Del Col

226- Salam from the South - UNIFIL Stands with the LAF (in English) | 23 December 2021

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.

225- Salam from the South - Liaison Mechanism in UNIFIL (in English) | 06 December 2021

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…

224- Salam from the South - Strategic Partners (in English) | 25 November 2021

UNIFIL is working in south Lebanon to implement UN Security Council Resolution 1701 and supporting the Lebanese Armed Forces in the area. Close cooperation between LAF and UNIFIL is of paramount importance in order to preserve calm in the area and assist local communities.

223- Salam from the South - Joint Exercises (in English) | 08 November 2021

Under UN Security Council Resolution 1701, UNIFIL supports the Lebanese Armed Forces in providing security and stability in south Lebanon as well as enhancing their capacities and capabilities through joint activities and trainings.

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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 together with the Lebanese Armed forces in the remote Shab’a area.

<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>

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.

<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>

"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.

<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>

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.

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.

<a href="https://soundcloud.com/unifilradio/ensuring-maritime-safety">Here is the link to full story in SoundCloud.</a>

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.

<a href="https://soundcloud.com/unifilradio/nepalese-female-patrol">Here is the link to full story in SoundCloud.</a>

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.

<a href="http://bit.ly/2mUi0Bx">Here is the link to full story in SoundCloud.</a>

“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.