The United Nations Special Coordinator for Lebanon, Ján Kubiš, and members of the UN Country Team (UNCT) today visited the UNIFIL Headquarters and discussed with UNIFIL leadership the ways the specialized organizations will continue to deliver as one UN.

During the visit, UNIFIL Head of Mission and Force Commander Major General Stefano Del Col briefed Mr. Kubiš as well as the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator, Philippe Lazzarini, and heads and representatives of about 20 UN agencies, funds and programmes on the work of UNIFIL in south Lebanon and along the Blue Line.

While acknowledging positive developments and ongoing partnership between UNIFIL and UNCT, the UNIFIL head commended the UN agencies for cooperation extended by their field offices in south Lebanon.

“I am hopeful that the meeting will give the necessary impetus for enhanced collaboration between UNIFIL and your respective offices, so we develop a closer partnership in south Lebanon,” he told the visitors. “The way forward can be a roadmap for cooperation with identified priorities for the south. We must expand our efforts from a rather piecemeal approach to a broader approach with a view of strengthening the presence of the state, and service delivery by the state in the south.”

Major General Del Col also announced today the launching of a joint UN Women-UNIFIL project focused on enhancing skills of women in the UNIFIL area of operation in conflict management and mediation, under UN Women’s National Action Plan for Lebanon.

During the course of the day, representatives of UN agencies, funds and programmes visited a stretch of the Blue Line and received a briefing on how UNIFIL is working with the parties to maintain the calm.

While UNIFIL’s mandate it focused on maintaining the cessation of hostilities and stability in its 1,060-square kilometre area of operation and along the 120-km Blue Line in south Lebanon, the 26 other UN agencies are active in Lebanon delivering much-needed aid and offering political and good offices support. These UN agencies are key to achieving many of the 17 sustainable development goals launched by the UN in January 2016.