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STORY: UN / LEBANON UPDATE
TRT: 01:46
SOURCE: UNIFEED
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGES: ENGLISH / NATS
DATELINE: 26 AUGUST 2024, NEW YORK CITY / FILE
FILE – NEW YORK CITY
1. Wide shot, exterior, United Nations Headquarters
26 AUGUST 2024, NEW YORK CITY
3. Wide shot, spokesperson walks on dais
4. SOUNDBITE (English) Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General:
“And moving to Lebanon, you will have seen that on Sunday we issued a statement in which the Secretary-General expressed his deep concern at the exchanges of fire that are taking place across the Blue Line. These actions, he said, put both the Lebanese and Israeli populations at risk, as well as threatening regional security and stability. He called for an immediate de-escalation. Following yesterday's worrying escalation, peacekeepers in UNIFIL continue to observe exchanges of fire across the Blue Line. As UNIFIL continues to carry out its mandate in these challenging circumstances, the Special Coordinator for Lebanon, Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert and the head of the peacekeeping mission in Lebanon, Lt. Gen. Aroldo Lázaro, continue their contacts with the parties in order to de-escalate the situation. Meanwhile, our humanitarian colleagues tell us that the recent uptick in hostilities has not had a significant humanitarian impact. However, the ongoing conflict continues to severely impact civilians on both sides of the Blue Line. Along with our partners, we continue to scale up relief efforts in support of the Lebanese Government-led response. However, humanitarian response efforts are being undermined by funding constraints, and we urgently need additional resources. We call on all parties to follow and to abide by their obligations under international humanitarian law, emphasizing the need to protect civilians, including children, and civilian infrastructure at all times.”
5. Wide shot, spokesperson leaves
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres expressed deep concern over a significant escalation of hostilities along the Blue Line between Lebanon and Israel, urging both sides to cease fire and adhere to international resolutions.
“These actions put both the Lebanese and Israeli populations at risk, as well as threatening regional security and stability,” Guterres said in a statement delivered by his spokesperson, Stéphane Dujarric, at the UN headquarters in New York today (26 Aug).
The spokesperson highlighted, the Secretary-General called for an urgent and immediate return to a cessation of hostilities, emphasizing the importance of fully implementing UN Security Council Resolution 1701 (2006), which outlines the terms for the cessation of hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel.
The escalation, which intensified over the weekend, has prompted concerns from UN peacekeepers in the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), who continue to monitor the exchanges of fire across the Blue Line. While the increased violence has not yet led to a significant humanitarian impact, the ongoing conflict continues to severely affect civilians on both sides, according to Dujarric.
UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert and UNIFIL head Lt. Gen. Aroldo Lázaro are actively engaging with the parties involved to de-escalate the situation, said Dujarric.
Stéphane Dujarric also highlighted the challenges faced by humanitarian efforts in Lebanon, which are being constrained by a lack of funding. “We urgently need additional resources,” Dujarric said, calling on all parties to adhere to their obligations under international humanitarian law and to protect civilians and infrastructure.
