While navigating a multitude of challenges amid ongoing hostilities in their area of operations in southern Lebanon, UNIFIL peacekeepers have made a notable contribution in support of affected communities in the south, as well as those displaced to other parts of the country.
They have been actively engaged on a daily basis, both through direct assistance and by facilitating humanitarian access the south.
Since the latest escalation in early March, UNIFIL personnel have carried out hundreds of donations of essential supplies – including food, medicines, clothing, and hygiene kits – benefiting thousands of families. These contributions were delivered through municipalities, public and security institutions, and charitable organizations. Many of these donations were made possible with direct initiatives of UNIFIL Head of Mission and Force Commander Major General Diodato Abagnara.
During the same period, UNIFIL peacekeepers provided security escorts to several humanitarian convoys reaching people living in various conflict-affected areas in the south. Through coordination with the parties, peacekeepers also facilitated additional hundreds of humanitarian missions.
Last week, UNIFIL head Major General Abagnara attended an event in the Badaro area of Beirut, where the mission’s Italian peacekeepers handed over an ambulance fitted with advanced emergency medical equipment and medical supplies to the Lebanese Army’s Military Hospital.
Speaking at the event, he said the support contributes to the resilience of state institutions and security of the population. “Through initiatives like this, we continue to strengthen the relationship of trust, cooperation and solidarity that binds UNIFIL, the LAF, and Lebanese institutions,” said the UNIFIL head.
At another donation event in Saida, where hundreds of dry food kits were handed over to southern municipal teams for distribution to displaced families two weeks ago, Major General Abagnara vowed to continue to support displaced families.
The head of UN Peacekeeping, Jean-Pierre Lacroix, has also commended efforts of the UNIFIL head and peacekeepers in continuing community support initiatives while operating in “a very difficult and challenging and dangerous environment.”
“They've been doing a lot over the last week is supporting humanitarian assistance to the civilians who remain in the affected areas south of the Litani River,” Mr. Lacroix told a news conference in New York yesterday.
