UN condemns attack on peacekeepers in Lebanon

[News_Editor]

UN condemns attack on peacekeepers in Lebanon

2011-05-28 03:03:36 GMT+7 (ICT)

UNITED NATIONS (BNO NEWS) -- The United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Friday strongly condemned the attack on a convoy of Italian peacekeepers in Lebanon.

A number of Italian peacekeepers serving with the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) were travelling in vehicles when a roadside bomb was detonated near the southern city of Naqoura.

Ban said that the UN is monitoring the situation but it appeared that no fatal victims occurred. He added that the attack was more deplorable as it was perpetrated during the International Day of UN Peacekeepers, which honors the men and women who work to advance peace in war-torn countries.

"The United Nations will work closely together with the Lebanese authorities to have a full and swift investigation on the attack to bring the perpetrators to justice," said Secretary-General Ban.

UNIFIL was established by the UN Security Council in March 1978 to confirm the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Lebanon. It was reinforced after the 2006 conflict and with the added mandate to monitor hostilities; support the Lebanese armed forces in the southern regions; and ensure humanitarian access to civilians.

In 2010, 173 UN peacekeepers (also known as blue helmets) lost their lives due to natural disasters, violence, accidents and diseases. More than 100 of them died in a single catastrophic event, the January helmets earthquake in Haiti.

According to the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO), the UN has nearly 85,000 military personnel, more than 14,000 police officers, 5,700 international civilian and 13,700 national staff serving in 15 operations on four continents.

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