Since the resumption of violence in south Lebanon early March, repairing roads and bridges has been a core and essential task for UNIFIL peacekeepers within their area of operations in the south.
Such tasks not only ensure peacekeepers’ own mobility but are also vital for opening humanitarian access in the area marked by daily exchanges of fire, ground combat, air strikes, demolitions and displacement.
Several roads have been repaired or roadblocks cleared in both sectors including in Shama, Ramyah, Marwahin, Ayta as-Sha’b, Marjayoun, Kfar Kila and Houla. In locations where large craters or situation on the ground made repairs impossible, peacekeepers constructed bypass routes to restore access.
More recently, the mission’s Chinese peacekeepers repaired a vital bridge near Al Bayyadahwhich was severely damaged in the course of the ongoing hostilities. On 26 May, they restored two damaged sections of the bridge deck, covering about 40 square metres, and rehabilitated damaged guardrails.
These works were carried out in close coordination with the Lebanese Armed Forces and local authorities.
These interventions have significantly improved mobility for both peacekeepers and humanitarian actors, enabling safer and more reliable access within the UNIFIL area of operations.
Peacekeepers continue to adapt to the constantly evolving situation on the ground. Despite significant escalation over the past three months, they remain deployed across all positions in southern Lebanon and continue to carry out their mandated tasks. Their commitment to supporting the full implementation of Security Council Resolution 1701 – the cornerstone of the mission’s mandate – remains firm.
