Shebaa, South Lebanon
The United Nations Special Coordinator for Lebanon, Derek Plumbly, today visited the area of Shebaa in south Lebanon where he toured the Blue Line and was briefed by UNIFIL. Later, in the town of Shebaa, he held discussions with the Qameqan of Hasbaya, the Mayor of Shebaa and the mayors of neighboring towns and villages on the conditions of the Syrian refugees and of the Lebanese communities hosting them in that area.
Mr. Plumbly also met representatives of UNHCR and other UN humanitarian agencies and visited Syrian refugees and a Lebanese public school in which Syrian and Lebanese children are studying together. He praised the cooperation between the Ministry of Education and the United Nations, as well as the donor support, that made this possible.
While welcoming the extraordinary generosity demonstrated by the Lebanese people towards the displaced from Syria, Mr. Plumbly pledged continued United Nations support in addressing this humanitarian challenge but stressed the pressing need for additional assistance from the donor community to meet the needs of the refugees and of the host communities. In Shebaa itself, the number of registered Syrian refugees is presently not far short of the number of year round Lebanese residents of the town.
After visiting the UNIFIL contingent locally, the Special Coordinator welcomed the cooperation between UNIFIL and the Lebanese army in the implementation of resolution 1701. He encouraged further steps from all sides concerned to maintain the calm that has prevailed in the area and to complete the implementation of outstanding requirements in resolution 1701, adding that UNIFIL was investigating Sunday’s incident along the Blue Line.
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