More than 16 million residents in China's capital city Beijing have benefited from water diverted by the South-to-North Water Diversion Project.
Currently, the project has transferred over 10.6 billion cubic meters of water to Beijing, effectively alleviating the water shortage in the mega city.
Through the project, water from the Danjiangkou Reservoir in central China's Hubei Province, a major source for the project, flows to Beijing over a distance of more than 1,200 km.
Upon arrival, the water first enters Beijing's Daning pressure regulating pool, with a flow rate of 50 cubic meters per second. After the pool adjusts the pressure to a suitable level, the water is then distributed to different parts of the city.
"This enables Beijing to supply more water, with a daily amount of 5 million cubic meters. The water is distributed throughout the city via our Daning pressure regulating pool," said Lin Xiong, head of the Fangshan office under the Beijing South-to-North Water Diversion Management Office.
The project's central route, the most prominent one, begins at the Danjiangkou Reservoir and runs through Henan and Hebei before reaching Beijing and Tianjin.
Since the route began operations in 2014, Beijing has built an underground water supply loop stretching 107 km to distribute water across the city.
"Our diverting pipeline channels water from the South-to-North Water Diversion main line to the Third Water Plant. The plant mainly serves three districts, including Haidian, Dongcheng, and Xicheng, benefiting around 3 million people, with a daily water supply of 210,000 cubic meters," said Li Meiting, deputy director of the Beijing management office.
China's mega water diversion project benefits 16 mln Beijing residents
Preliminary findings indicate that Israeli tank fire and a Hezbollah explosive were likely responsible for the deaths of three Indonesian peacekeepers in Lebanon last week, a UN spokesperson said at a daily briefing on Tuesday.
The UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) shared the initial findings of its inquiry with the governments of Indonesia, Israel and Lebanon, said Stephane Dujarric, chief spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.
He said these are preliminary findings based on initial physical evidence, adding that a full UN investigation continues.
The spokesman said that all actors must fulfill their obligations to ensure the safety and security of peacekeepers at all times. The inviolability of UN installations must be respected.
"These incidents are unacceptable. We have requested with the relevant parties that the cases be investigated and prosecuted by national authorities to bring the perpetrators to justice and ensure criminal accountability for crimes against peacekeepers. Attacks on United Nations peacekeepers may constitute war crimes under international law," said Dujarric.
The three Indonesian peacekeepers were killed in two separate incidents in southern Lebanon in late March. A UN investigation determined that one died when Israeli tank fire struck a UNIFIL position on March 29. The next day, two others were killed when an explosion of unknown origin destroyed their vehicle in a logistics convoy near Bani Hayyan. Initial findings pointed to a roadside blast.
UNIFIL paid tribute to the life and work of the fallen peacekeepers in an April 2 ceremony at Rafik Hariri International Airport, Beirut, before their remains were repatriated.
The three peacekeepers were posthumously awarded medals in recognition of their dedicated service to UNIFIL's mission in southern Lebanon.
On Saturday, the remains of the three fallen Indonesian peacekeepers arrived at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport where they were received with honors by Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto before being transferred to their respective hometowns for final rites.
The secretary-general earlier condemned the killings, extended his deepest condolences to the families of the fallen peacekeepers and to the government of Indonesia, while expressing appreciation for the courage and service of all men and women serving with UNIFIL.
The UN Security Council, which mandated the UNIFIL mission, also condemned the attacks in a statement, offering condolences to the victims' families and to Indonesia. Council members reaffirmed their full support for UNIFIL.
Israeli tank fire, Hezbollah explosive likely killed 3 UN peacekeepers in Lebanon: spokesperson
