UNIFIL and the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) yesterday, renewing the UN peacekeeping mission’s support for humanitarian and operational demining in the UNIFIL area of operations in south Lebanon. 

UNIFIL Chief of Staff Major General Jean-Jacques Fatinet and the Director of the LAF’s Lebanon Mine Action Centre (LMAC), Brigadier General Jihad Bechelany, signed the document in the Lebanese capital, Beirut, effectively formalizing UNIFIL’s continued assistance through to 31 December 2026.

The MoU provides the framework for UNIFIL assistance to the Government of Lebanon in a range of humanitarian mine action activities in south Lebanon such as conducting mine clearance operations and explosive ordnance disposal (EOD). Such operations are crucial for protecting civilians and UNIFIL personnel from the danger of explosives, especially given the recent conflict, and for ensuring greater UNIFIL mobility.

As part of the agreement, LMAC will provide UNIFIL with a list of all “dangerous areas” within the UN mission’s area of operation and shall indicate priority areas for humanitarian demining. And, prior to the commencement of any humanitarian demining operation, a joint reconnaissance of prospective sites shall be conducted by UNIFIL, the UN Mine Action Service (UNMAS), and the LMAC. UNMAS is responsible for conducting all quality assurance inspections of UNIFIL demining teams in accordance with established standards. 

Major General Fatinet said LMAC’s mission to make Lebanon safer is key for the return of every civilian displaced by the recent conflict. 

“The renewal of the MoU is a testimony of UNIFIL’s commitment to support Lebanese authorities and we look forward to a successful cooperation in Southern Lebanon,” said the UNIFIL Chief of Staff.

UNIFIL currently has six demining teams – three each from China and Cambodia, which also have one EOD team each. Additionally, due to the added threat posed by the recent conflict, two new explosive ordnance reconnaissance teams from France have joined UNIFIL in order to boost the mission’s response to the threats.

In January 2020, the two forces – UNIFIL and the LAF – signed their first MoU to enhance cooperation in humanitarian demining in south Lebanon. This is the third time this understanding has been renewed.