Peacekeepers in UNIFIL’s area of operations in south-eastern Lebanon conducted road clearing and repairing tasks last week, rehabilitating sections of two vital roads that were damaged by recent Israeli airstrikes.

On 27 November, combat engineers from UNIFIL’s Spanish contingent cleared and repaired the road connecting Nabatieh and Marjayoun that also serves as the main access route from the country’s south-eastern villages to the capital, Beirut.

The following day, another road linking two UNIFIL positions on the Blue Line south of Kfar Shouba with the village was repaired.

Peacekeepers used a variety of specialized machinery, including bulldozers, graders and excavators to perform these vital tasks, carried out in coordination with the Lebanese Armed Forces.

They identified and rectified potential hazards, such as dealing with unexploded ordnances, before starting to open the roads, which is important to ensure smooth and safe mobility of UNIFIL peacekeepers operating in south Lebanon as well as local civilians.

The violence between Hizbullah and the Israel Defense Forces that erupted in October 2023 and escalated in September forced an estimated 900,000 people – including more than 500,000 people in south Lebanon alone – to flee to safety. Since the cessation of hostilities agreement of 27 November, many have returned to their homes.