Anjali Sharma
GG News Bureau
UNITED NATIONS, 10th Jan. Head of the UN Peacekeeping Operations in New York Jean-Pierre Lacroix, on Tuesday arrived in Lebanon to discuss the critical role of the blue helmets force in the south of Lebanon UNIFIL.
The mission patrols the so-called Blue Line along Lebanon’s southern frontier, which was the line of withdrawal for Israeli forces set by the UN in 2000 to make room for a formal border agreement at a later date.
He noted Israel and Hezbollah militants continue to exchange fire across the Blue Line during the on-going Gaza conflict as the UN and humanitarian partners are try to respond to avoid any further escalation of hostilities.
According to latest figures, over 76,000 people have been displaced by fighting in the south, while tens of thousands of Israelis have also left the frontier region, fearing for their safety.
UN spokesman Stéphane Dujarric said “Humanitarian access continues to be constrained, mainly along the Blue Line, which is hampering our efforts to deliver essential supplies”.
Mr. Dujarric said Mr. Lacroix was scheduled to meet the caretaker Prime Minister of Lebanon, the Speaker of the Parliament and other officials.
He will head to Naqoura in southern Lebanon to meet representatives of the Lebanese Armed Forces, UNIFIL leadership and peacekeepers.
Mr. Lacroix is visiting the three peacekeeping missions in the Middle East.
He was in Syria in the past few days, where he met with the leadership and peacekeepers from the UN Disengagement Observer Force as well as senior Syrian Government officials.
Mr. Lacroix will visit the UNTSO, the UN Truce Supervision Organization headquarters in Jerusalem and is scheduled to meet with Israeli government and military officials, UN spokesman added.
