Schoolchildren visit UNIFIL HQ

About 70 children from a public school in Houla in south-eastern Lebanon visited UNIFIL Headquarters in Naqoura, during which they were briefed on the work of the peacekeeping mission, last week. During the 5 April visit, organized by UNIFIL peacekeepers from Austria, Indonesia, Italy and Sri Lanka in coordination with a local non-governmental organization called “Mothers’ Association,” the peacekeepers briefed the children on the work of the UN peacekeeping mission. The briefing to the children and their teachers was particularly useful because their school in Houla is close to the Blue Line, the Line of Withdrawal that confirmed Israeli forces leaving Lebanon in 2000. The Line, of which UN is the sole custodian, is always very sensitive. What is known as the Blue Line is in fact the Line of Withdrawal that confirmed Israeli forces leaving Lebanon in 2000. It is not a border between Lebanon and Israel, and is always very sensitive. UNIFIL monitors the Line round the clock and reports any violation. The children, aged between 5 and 12 and accompanied by their teachers, also had a chance to see a dog show, firefighting equipment and helicopters. UNIFIL attaches great importance to its cordial relationship with the host communities, which is critical to the full implementation of its mandate in accordance with Security Council resolution 1701.