The UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) has reported that the latest ceasefire announced for Lebanon on June 19 appears to be largely holding, spokesman for the UN secretary-general Stephane Dujarric said on Tuesday at a press conference, calling for protecting civilians and creating conditions that allow displaced families to return home with dignity.
Sporadic exchanges of fire and military reconnaissance activities have been reported, but a large number of displaced Lebanese families have begun returning to their homes, according to UNIFIL's observation.
The UNIFIL peacekeepers reported that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) fired heavy machine-gun fire and two 40 mm grenades near Al Bayyadah toward a UNIFIL base, followed by three rounds fired by a Merkava tank toward Al Mansuri in UNIFIL's Sector West, Dujarric said.
The peacekeepers observed four aerial drone activities near and over a UNIFIL position on Monday, with one armed drone flying over the position at altitudes ranging from 50 to 150 meters, Dujarric said. Another drone was recorded south of Deir Mimess at an altitude of about 80 meters, apparently monitoring peacekeepers during roadblock removal work, he said.
The spokesperson said peacekeepers encountered two roadblocks southeast of Deir Mimess on Monday, and IDF personnel blocked a road used by a UNIFIL patrol near Bayt Yahun, forcing them to return to their point of origin.
About 19,000 people left collective shelters overnight, reducing the total from 109,000 on Monday to more than 90,000 on Tuesday, Dujarric said.
Dujarric also warned that the humanitarian situation remains fragile and uncertain for families seeking to return to their homes.
He said a new joint assessment by the UN Development Programme and the Lebanese National Council for Scientific Research reported that more than 11,000 residential buildings were completely destroyed and another 2,200 were partially damaged during recent hostilities.
"Continued uncertainty, widespread destruction, the threat posed by unexploded ordinances continue to prevent safe and sustainable return. We and our partners continue to call for the protection of civilians and for conditions to allow displaced families to return home voluntarily, safely, and of course, with dignity," he said.
UN calls for protections for displaced civilians returning homes in Lebanon
