Peacekeepers in southern Lebanon staying in place: UN peacekeeping chief

UNITED NATIONS, Oct. 3 (Xinhua) — UN peacekeepers in southern Lebanon are currently staying in their positions and continue to do their best to implement their Security Council mandate in very difficult conditions, the UN peacekeeping chief said on Thursday.
Peacekeepers of the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) “feel duty-bound to the mandate given to them by the Security Council” and they feel “duty-bound to the population in southern Lebanon,” Jean-Pierre Lacroix, the UN under-secretary-general for peace operations, said at a news conference.
He said there are contingency plans which are constantly updated, so that if needed “we can adapt UNIFIL posture.”
Lacroix noted that the current situation limits the ability of the peacekeepers to implement their mandated tasks, but “Team UNIFIL remains united and committed.”
UNIFIL continues working with partners to do whatever they can to protect the population, providing temporary shelter to affected populations in recent weeks and supporting the delivery of humanitarian assistance, he said.
He expressed deep alarm over the escalation in southern Lebanon and the impact on civilians, reiterating the need for a cessation of hostilities and negotiations to restore calm.
The safety of UN peacekeepers remains “a paramount priority,” and a number of measures have been taken to strengthen their protection, the peacekeeping chief added.
Responding to a question concerning a request by Israel to vacate some UNIFIL positions, including those very close to the Blue Line, Lacroix said the peacekeepers “are currently staying in all their positions.”
“This is a decision that we have made after thorough consideration of all the elements, including the safety and security of our peacekeepers, but also the responsibility we have in regard to the mandate and the population,” he said.
UNIFIL was originally created by the Security Council in March 1978 to confirm the Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon, restore international peace and security and assist the Lebanese government in restoring its effective authority in the area. After the 2006 war between Hezbollah and Israel, UNIFIL’s mandate was expanded to monitor the cessation of hostilities and to accompany the deployment of Lebanese armed forces throughout southern Lebanon as Israel withdraws its troops. ■