UNIFIL and the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) continue to work together to strengthen Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) and demining capabilities in southern Lebanon. The partnership supports the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701 by helping reduce the risks posed by explosive remnants of war and improving safety for local communities.
As part of this effort, UNIFIL peacekeepers regularly respond to reports of unexploded ordnance across the Mission's area of operations. On 21 June, a UNIFIL EOD team safely disposed of an unexploded munition found near a UN Position in Ibil es-Saqi After securing the site and assessing the risk, specialists carried out a controlled disposal operation without incident.
The operation removed a potential danger to both nearby residents and UN personnel, highlighting the vital work carried out by EOD teams. Their daily activities help address the lingering impact of past and recent hostilities, making affected areas safer for local communities.
EOD personnel also conduct routine checks along roads and operational routes to support the movement of UNIFIL patrols, logistical convoys and humanitarian missions. Keeping these routes to allow peacekeepers to perform their mandated tasks remains an important part of the Mission's work.
Since the escalation of hostilities, UNIFIL EOD teams have located and neutralized dozens of unexploded ordnances, improvised explosive devices and crashed drones. These operations require specialized expertise, careful planning and close coordination among different Mission elements.
In addition to clearance activities, peacekeepers help facilitate humanitarian movements through liaising and escorted movements to provide security support when required, helping ensure assistance can reach communities safely.
Through their continued cooperation, UNIFIL and UNMAS are helping reduce explosive threats across southern Lebanon while supporting a safer and more secure environment for both local residents and those working to assist them.
