UNIFIL veterans return to a changed south Lebanon

A returning UNIFIL veteran from The Netherlands photographs a serving Finnish peacekeeper about to set off on a patrol.

The ability of veteran UN peacekeepers returning to a UN peacekeeping mission is a strong indication of the increased security and stability of the region they served during hard times. Their regular visits can also be explained by the strong bond they developed with the host communities. In the past few years UNIFIL civil affairs office has facilitated many visits of UNIFIL veterans to south Lebanon. These retired peacekeepers come from as far away as the Netherlands, Sweden, Ireland and Norway. Some have not been here since UNIFIL was established in 1978, others served during times of conflict in the 1980’s and ‘90’s. All of them remark on the socio-economic development south Lebanon has witnessed, facilitated by the past 12 years of calm. After driving through south Lebanon, Vigar Aabrek, a Norwegian UNIFIL veteran who served as Commanding Officer of the UNIFIL Norwegian Battalion in 1978, commented, “Today the civilian life is functioning in quite another way than in 1978.” He added, “The job that UNIFIL has done in those 40 years has been necessary because south Lebanon today and 40 years ago is quite another south Lebanon.” John Molloy, who served with the Irish Battalion six times between 1979 and 2006, has similar observations. “I have seen the full transition,” said Mr. Molloy. “After the war of 2006 and the cessation of hostilities, all the hard work that we did in the area laid the foundation for the existing calm.” He agrees that everything has not been solved but UNIFIL troops are working very closely with the local population for a lasting peace. “There is calm; mothers are bringing their kids to the schools in the morning, they can go shopping, people can come to the beach, they can eat out in restaurants – it’s a very calm environment,” he noted. “Normality to a great extent has been restored.” UNIFIL Head of Mission and Force Commander Major General Michael Beary met with each of the visiting groups. He remarked, after meeting one of such groups, that it’s wonderful to see them coming back and seeing the change. “That is a really good indication of how the local population - who we are here to serve - how they are re-engaging with their own country, building new houses, taking back land and developing new tourist ventures. All of this is extremely positive,” he said. “So, for me it is wonderful to see the veterans coming back and I would invite any UNIFIL veteran to join us here and allow us to show you the area of operations as it is now.”