JAKARTA - The head of the United Nations (UN) peacekeeping force warned on Thursday of an "increasingly dangerous environment" for peacekeepers, highlighting recent deadly incidents and increased risks in the field.
United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix said five peacekeepers serving with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) have been killed in recent weeks, underlining the growing threat facing UN personnel.
He said the peacekeepers continued to operate in unstable conditions while trying to protect civilians and maintain stability in the conflict zone, Anadolu (23/4) reported.
Responding to the situation in Lebanon, Lacroix said the presence of Israeli forces in Lebanese territory was a "violation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701."
He stressed that a lasting solution cannot be achieved only through military means and must be through a political agreement implemented by the Lebanese authorities, with the support of the international community.
"Israel must do whatever is necessary to create the political, practical, and security space and conditions for that to happen," he urged.
Lacroix also warned that peacekeeping operations were under severe financial pressure, with a lack of liquidity forcing significant capacity reductions.
He said the missions had reduced their operational capacity by about 25 percent due to delays or partial payments from member states.
This reduction, he said, has immediate consequences, including reduced ability to protect civilians and respond to increased incidents.
Lacroix warned that if the situation did not improve, peacekeeping operations could reach a point where they might no longer be able to carry out some of the tasks entrusted to them.
It is known that five soldiers who are part of the UNIFIL Task Force were killed in less than a month.
Three TNI soldiers, Major Inf. (Anm) Zulmi, Serka (Anm) Nur Ichwan and Kopda (Anm) Farizal Rhomadhon were killed in two separate incidents on March 29-30.
Meanwhile, two French soldiers were killed in an ambush on April 18, a day after the announcement of the ceasefire. Staff Sergeant Florian Montorio was killed on the spot. Corporal Anicet Girardin, who was wounded in the attack, was announced dead on Wednesday after being repatriated from Lebanon.
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