Written by Qassem Safa 

 

 

Translated by Rabab Housseiny 

 

 

 

 

 

After 33 years of its presence in South Lebanon, the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) continues to assume its transnational role. It is indeed an international witness of the repeated Israeli violations. Ever since 1978, Israel had waged more than six wars on South Lebanon; yet its last aggression, namely the 2006 July War, extended throughout the whole country. 

 

 

The UNIFIL was founded as per the UN Security Council's resolutions 425 and 426 on March 29, 1978, to confirm the withdrawal of Israeli troops from South Lebanon, restore international peace and security, and assist the Lebanese government restoring its effective authority in the area. 

 

 

Notably, it is far well known that Israel did not retreat from the South in year 2000 in compliance with the aforementioned resolutions, but rather down to a fierce resistance Israeli troops had faced throughout the occupation years. 

 

 

As to its mission, the UNIFIL, pursuant to the UNSC resolution 1701, is tasked with the following: 

 

 

-observing the cessation of hostilities; 

 

 

-backing up the Lebanese armed forces during their deployment in all the regions of the South, including the Blue Line, until the withdrawal of Israeli troops from South Lebanon; 

 

 

-coordinating the aforementioned steps in tandem with both Lebanon and Israel's governments; 

 

 

-Providing necessary assistance to guarantee humanitarian aids to the civil population and to secure a deliberate and safe return for the displaced; 

 

 

-Assisting the Lebanese armed forces to take necessary steps with view of setting up a weapon-free zone between the Blue Line and Litani River; 

 

 

-Assisting the Lebanese government, upon its request, to secure Lebanon's borders and other access points to control arms entrance without the government's approval. 

 

 

The UNSC resolution 1701 had also empowered the UNIFIL to adopt necessary measures to curb any potential hostilities in its deployment zone, to protect the UN equipment, utilities, facilities, and employees, and to protect civilians prone to be exposed to physical abuse. 

 

 

 

 

 

UNIFIL and civilians 

 

 

The UNIFIL pins great importance on its relation with the local habitants, among whom peacekeeping forces live and work. The UNIFIL is keen to introduce southerners to the force's mission and activities, respect local traditions and culture, and partake in social events. 

 

 

This civil-military coordination is indeed the key source of interaction between the UNIFIL and local communities where it operates. 

 

 

 

 

 

Communication and coordination 

 

 

The UNIFIL holds constant contacts with a panel of active poles on the local level among whom local government's representatives, representatives of local communities, civil society groups, as well as groups of the international agencies taking part in the rescue and development-related activities. 

 

 

Even though the UNIFIL is not a developmental or humanitarian agency, it had proven to be, ever since its deployment in 1978 keenly concerned to treating the humanitarian upshots following wars and occupation in South Lebanon. UNIFIL units provide a variety of basic services to the local communities with the assistance of the peacekeeping forces. 

 

 

The UNIFIL also has numerous contributions to medical services and training programs for villagers in fields such as informatics, languages, baking, and yoga. 

 

 

In the wake of July War in 2006, the UNIFIL's most vital projects mainly featured on providing basic services, especially pertaining to water and electricity, as well as on roads and infrastructures' restoration and rehabilitation. 

 

 

Civil Affairs and military-civil coordination's teams assume a pioneering role in managing UNIFIL's Quick Impact Projects. 

 

 

 

 

 

Public awareness 

 

 

Social awareness is deemed among the foremost priorities of the UNIFIL's mission tasked with providing regular data streams from and towards local communities. There is a specific unit for social military awareness to introduce local habitants to the UNIFIL's goals and activities. 

 

 

The UNIFIL's awareness activities also include the holding of forums, explaining to villagers the UNSC resolution 1701, and bolstering understanding between the UNIFIL and youth in South Lebanon. 

 

 

 

 

 

Cooperation with armed forces 

 

 

Cooperation between the UNIFIL and the Lebanese armed forces is considered to be the key to implement UNSC resolution 1701. This resolution aims at restoring a safe and secure atmosphere in South Lebanon, as well as at setting up a zone between the Blue Line and Litani River free of any armed individuals and weapons not affiliated to the Lebanese government and the UNIFIL. 

 

 

Besides its field activities, the UNIFIL and the Lebanese Army conduct joint military maneuvers and training activities, and exchange expertise via a joint lectures program. 

 

 

About 50 military observers from Lebanon's Observers Team assist the UNIFIL in carrying out its mission. The team is comprised of a non-armed military mission affiliated to the United Nations, and present in Lebanon since 1949 as part of the UN Truce Supervision Organization. 

 

 

Military observers effectuate patrols in villages and along the Blue Line in an attempt to raise confidence and trust among villagers, with whom they maintain excellent relations. 

 

 

 

 

 

Demining 

 

 

UNIFIL's explosions experts and demining personnel contribute to facilitating the UNIFIL's activities by eliminating unexploded mines and ammunitions. 

 

 

UNIFIL's navy force is deployed along the Lebanese coast to back up Lebanese marines in observing territorial waters, securing Lebanese coasts, and controlling the entrance of unlicensed weapons and related materials.