Beirut, 13 February 2022 (TDI): UNIFIL donated vehicles to the Lebanese security entities. UNIFIL is keen to support the Lebanese State institutions.
This week, the peacekeeping mission handed over 32 vehicles and various pieces of IT equipment to the country’s three security entities. Those entities are the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF), the LAF’s Intelligence Branch, and General Security. The donated vehicles include SUVs, buses, trucks, and trailers.
This week #UNIFIL donated a number of assets to the @LebarmyOfficial, its Intelligence apparatus, and the @DGSG_Security. Supporting the country’s security entities is the core of our mandate aimed at increasing their capacities in south #Lebanon.
More👉 https://t.co/cv2XCxXkFu pic.twitter.com/hRoPm3CTdp— UNIFIL (@UNIFIL_) February 11, 2022
General Stefano Del Col handed over the vehicles to representatives of the respective security institutions. It is worth mentioning that General Del Col is also the mission’s head and Force Commander Major.
A ceremony was held for the donation in the UNIFIL headquarters in Naqoura, South Lebanon. The ceremony took place on 10 and 11 February, as requested by the UN Security Council in light of the protracted socio-economic crisis plaguing the country.
The UNIFIL has amped up support, especially to its strategic partners, the LAF. This follows a request by the Security Council in August 2021 to take “temporary and special measures” to support the LAF with items.
These items are food, fuel, medicine, and other logistical support for six months. Nevertheless, UNIFIL undertook significant maintenance and repairs this time under the auspices of this logistical support. While the donation of vehicles and equipment to the LAF is a routine.
The continued socio-economic deterioration and inability of Lebanese State institutions undermine the implementation of the UN resolution. Del Col wrote that the diminished capacity of the LAF to maintain its operations in the UNIFIL area of operations is of particular concern.
This was in his latest report on the implementation of Security Council resolution 1701. This resolution is what forms the core of UNIFIL’s mandate. Nonetheless, it is in this context that support is provided to the Lebanese security institutions.
He proceeded to say that the LAF is especially the only legitimate armed forces of Lebanon. Hence it is of paramount importance.
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