Once gathered around the famous horseshoe-shaped table, Member States urged both sides to reduce tensions and reiterated the obligation to protect civilians and respect the UN peacekeeping mission in Lebanon, UNIFIL.
Although the force’s mandate is scheduled to end on December 31, UN Secretary-General António Guterres has He insisted that peacekeepers would be needed in Lebanon beyond that date.
He has sent a letter to Council members presenting three possible scenarios involving between about 2,000 and more than 5,500 UN staff who could monitor the ceasefire and support the Lebanese army.
Climbing remains a reality in the south
To better understand the situation on the ground, UN News spoke to UNIFIL spokesperson Tilak Pokharel on Tuesday.
He noted an increase in violence last weekend.
“We have seen more trajectories, firing from both sides. For example, yesterday the highest number of trajectories fired by the Israeli side, the IDF, was recorded, and the day before was also almost the same level.” Non-state armed groups also continue to fire on Israeli targets from Lebanon, he added.
Large scale destruction along the Blue Line
The UNIFIL spokesperson noted that the IDF had advanced deeper into Lebanon’s interior, while in the south it had carried out large-scale destruction of homes and other civilian infrastructure. “So that forced the people who live here to leave their homes and they haven’t been able to return, of course… now, much of the area where our positions are located is under IDF control.”
UNIFIL is trying to help people who have decided to stay by supporting access by humanitarian organizations and escorting humanitarian aid missions.
Mr. Pokharel added that “on some occasions, we have also provided small-scale donations to address immediate needs, not only within the UNIFIL area of operations, but also outside, where people in our area were forcibly evacuated, or forced to flee, and are mostly living outside collective shelters.”
Roadblocks and mines create extraordinary conditions for peacekeepers
Pokharel explained that in the areas near the Blue Line Separation, most buildings and other infrastructure have been demolished and destroyed. “Many of the bridges were attacked along the Litani River, and the peacekeepers encountered many checkpoints and mines placed on the roads… it is an extraordinary situation that we are operating in,” he said.
“Peacekeepers who come from far away countries, who are far from their homes, families and friends, who spend time here and face difficult times in southern Lebanon, have had to stay in bunkers for days, if not weeks,” the UNIFIL spokesperson said.
“As a result of the last escalation, there was a situation where they were unable to resupply their positions, some were left without food, fresh food or water, for days… we have been through all of this.”
He recalled that six UNIFIL peacekeepers have “died in the line of duty in southern Lebanon for peace and stability” since hostilities began on March 2.