Tags : United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL)
Topic: West Asia
Why in the news?
Israeli troops opened fire at three positions held by U.N. peacekeepers in southern Lebanon, according to a U.N. source. The source said one of the locations fired at was UNIFIL\'s main base at Naqoura.
Source: The Hindu
About United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL):
Originally, UNIFIL was created by the Security Council in March 1978 after Israel\'s invasion of Lebanon.
Mandate: According to Security Council resolutions 425 (1978) and 426 (1978) of 19 March 1978, UNIFIL was established to:
Confirm the withdrawal of Israeli forces from southern Lebanon.
Restore international peace and security.
Assist the Government of Lebanon in ensuring the return of its effective authority in the area.
The mandate had to be adjusted twice, due to the developments in 1982 and 2000.
It has around 10,500 peacekeepers coming from 48 troop contributing countries.
The Mission maintains an intensive level of operational and other activities amounting to approximately 14,500 activities per month, day and night in the area of operations.
Seventeen percent of activities are carried out jointly with the Lebanese Armed Forces. UNIFIL is complemented by a five-vessel Maritime Task Force.
It is funded through a separate account approved on an annual basis by the General Assembly.
It is a part of the UN Peacekeeping Force.
UN Peacekeeping Force:
UN peacekeepers provide security and the political and peacebuilding support to help countries make the difficult, early transition from conflict to peace.
UN Peacekeeping is guided by three basic principles:
Consent of the parties;
Impartiality;
Non-use of force except in self-defense and defense of the mandate.
The Security Council has a vital role in securing this commitment and cooperation, while providing missions with realistic and clear mandates.
There are currently 12 UN peacekeeping operations deployed.
For its services, UN Peacekeeping has also received the Nobel Peace Prize.
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