In the wake of the recent hostilities in south Lebanon, UNIFIL peacekeepers have stepped up efforts to support local communities in rebuilding their lives and restoring a sense of normalcy.
Working closely with municipalities, community groups and local partners, UNIFIL has promoted local fairs and markets to help revive economic activity, organized educational and recreational events for children, facilitated humanitarian access, and provided donations of essential items and support to vulnerable families.
These initiatives have created opportunities for residents to reconnect, strengthened community resilience, and brought moments of hope and joy to children and families as they recover from the impact of the conflict and look toward a more stable future.
Last weekend, UNIFIL Head of Mission and Force Commander Major General Diodato Abagnara joined local officials, women entrepreneurs, shoppers and fellow peacekeepers at an exhibition of food and local handicrafts in Tyre.
The UNIFIL head said the mission’s peacekeepers actively engage in community support initiatives, on top of their core peacekeeping tasks, “because UNIFIL is for people.”
“This (supporting the local community and economy) is one of the most important tasks for us,” he said. “It’s not just to monitor, to report (violations of Resolution 1701), and one important thing for me is also to protect civilians, to support people.”
Major Noor Fartinie of UNIFIL’s Malaysian contingent was also there to learn about and taste Lebanese cuisine, and buy handicrafts.
“I bought some things, like a bracelet and a soap – handmade soap – and also they have jam. I think the jam is the most delicious thing that I bought,” she said.
Twenty-year-old Leen Hajj from Tyre had a stall of handmade jewelry. She is a regular exhibitor in fairs organized by the Tyre Municipality and by UNIFIL.
“Despite the circumstances we are living through, with strikes and sounds every day, we want to continue living our lives,” said Ms. Hajj. “And when the UNIFIL Force Commander passed by, he gave us a lot of motivation and encouraged us morally.”
According to Randa Abou Saleh, Tyre Municipality's Head of the Women and Children's Affairs Committee, more than 100 women entrepreneurs from across south Lebanon, hardest hit by the latest hostilities, took part in the exhibition. Many of them had received vocational training from UNIFIL peacekeepers.
“These women have determination and incredible perseverance – truly, it is difficult to describe,” she said. “You can see that these women are determined to continue their journey; they want to keep going.”
Ms. Saleh said UNIFIL-provided training enabled them to start their own businesses, while others were able to find work or employment, depending on the training they received.
Every week, through coordination with the parties, UNIFIL facilitates work of various humanitarian and aid agencies in south Lebanon. Its peacekeepers also provide security escorts to several aid convoys. Such acts serve as the essential lifeline – with food, medicines, fuel and other essential supplies – for thousands of civilians living in several pockets of south Lebanon.
Peacekeepers have also organized recreational and educational events for children. In a recent such event, the mission’s Irish and Polish peacekeepers brought a touch of joy and fun into the lives of hundreds of local children in a southwestern village. The children engaged in sports (football and skateboarding) and face painting and received educational materials.
Despite challenging conditions, UNIFIL peacekeepers remain on the ground, maintaining an operational presence, monitoring and reporting developments, supporting the Lebanese Armed Forces and helping local communities affected by the conflict.
