Lebanon: Unifil Female Team Patrols in Rmeish
Beirut - In December, UNIFIL’s Sector West conducted an all-female foot patrol in Rmeish with the participation of a dozen peacekeepers from six countries – Ghana, Ireland, Italy, Republic of Korea, Malaysia and the Netherlands.
The Sector West of UNIFIL in Lebanon is operated by Italian peacekeepers, that continued to complete the tasks assigned as defined in Resolution 1701 of the UN Security Council.
UNIFIL currently has around 10,500 peacekeepers who maintain some 13,500 operational activities per month, by day and night, in the area of operations. UNIFIL, which works closely with the Lebanese Armed Forces, is complemented by a seven-vessel Maritime Task Force.
Women's contribution in peacekeeping operations has been of paramount importance in maintaining stability. Women peacekeepers have also been providing the local communities with valuable assistance through face-to-face communication and in the implementation of projects serving the local population. UNIFIL highly recognizes the important role women play in the armed forces of their own countries as well as their considerable contribution to peacekeeping missions.
"I think the value added from our female is really incredible. We are seeing it from this patrol and we hope to develop it further in the area of operations. Patrolling gives our female in uniform the chance to interact with the local communities", says the UNIFIL Force Commander and Head of Mission Major General Micheal Beary.
Women peacekeepers' role is also aimed at encouraging Lebanese women to join the military and to support the Lebanese Armed Forces' initiative in recruiting women.
"We want to encourage local women to join the military. We want to show them our presence as female in a peacekeeping mission", says Major Syazwani, UNIFIL Malbatt peacekeeper. Due to cultural norms it is recognized that women talking to women can be more welcomed, and rewarded by the local women.
UNIFIL hopes that such activities would ensure that the mission meets the expectations and needs of the communities it serves.