Lebanon: The UN peacekeepers helping communities who’ve stayed behind

(UN News) The killing of three UN peacekeepers in south Lebanon in the past two days has highlighted the grave dangers for the 10,000 military personnel who make up the bulk of UNIFIL, the UN Interim Force in Lebanon – and for the communities caught up in intense clashes between the Israeli military and Hezbollah fighters. “It’s extremely volatile, extremely dangerous, and you know, we see the situation for us as peacekeepers, also for the civilians who remain in certain areas, because there are civilians who have chosen to stay and peacekeepers are supporting them in any way that we can,” UNIFIL spokesperson Kandice Ardiel told UN News. This help involves coordinating and delivering humanitarian aid, she explained, speaking from the force’s headquarters in Naqoura, southwest Lebanon. Peacekeepers have also assisted in relocating civilians to safer areas upon request and continue to conduct patrols to monitor the situation and provide reassurance to those who remain. – Lebanon: The UN peacekeepers helping communities who’ve stayed behind | UN News