{"id":189618,"date":"1982-06-10T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2019-03-11T22:37:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/?p=189618"},"modified":"2019-03-11T22:37:40","modified_gmt":"2019-03-11T22:37:40","slug":"auto-insert-189618","status":"publish","type":"document","link":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/document\/auto-insert-189618\/","title":{"rendered":"UNIFIL – Sec Gen report"},"content":{"rendered":"
REPORT OF THE SECRETARY-GENERAL ON THE UNITED NATIONS INTERIM FORCE IN LEBANON<\/strong><\/p><\/div>\n (for the period from 11 December 1981 to 3 June 1982)<\/strong><\/p><\/div>\n CONTENTS<\/strong><\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n \n INTRODUCTION<\/p>\n<\/td>\n Paragraphs<\/u><\/p><\/div>\n 1<\/p><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n I.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n COMPOSITION AND DEPLOYMENT OF THE FORCE<\/p>\n<\/td>\n 2-14<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n A.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n Composition and command<\/p>\n<\/td>\n 2-8<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n B<\/p>\n<\/td>\n Deployment<\/p>\n<\/td>\n 9-14<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n II.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n ADMINISTRATION AND LOGISTICS <\/p>\n<\/td>\n 15-25<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n A<\/p>\n<\/td>\n Accommodation<\/p>\n<\/td>\n 16<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n B.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n Communications<\/p>\n<\/td>\n 17<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n C.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n Logistics <\/p>\n<\/td>\n 18-25<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n III<\/p>\n<\/td>\n FUNCTIONS AND ACTIVITIES OF THE FORCE<\/p>\n<\/td>\n 26-53<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n A.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n Guidelines and terms of reference<\/p>\n<\/td>\n 26<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n B.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n Co-operation with UNTSO<\/p>\n<\/td>\n 27-28<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n C.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n Contacts with the parties<\/p>\n<\/td>\n 29-31<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n D.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n Situation in southern Lebanon and activities of<\/p>\n UNIFIL<\/p>\n<\/td>\n 32-51<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n E.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n Humanitarian activities<\/p>\n<\/td>\n 52-53<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n IV<\/p>\n<\/td>\n FINANCIAL ASPECTS<\/p>\n<\/td>\n 54<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n Annex. Map of UNIFIL deployment as of June 1982<\/p>\n<\/td>\n <\/p>\n INTRODUCTION<\/p><\/div>\n 1. The present report contains an account of developments relating to the functioning of the Âé¶¹APP Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) for the period from 11 December 1981 to 3 June 1982. An addendum to this report, including my observations on UNIFIL, will be issued later.<\/p><\/div>\n I. COMPOSITION AND DEPLOYMENT OF THE FORCE<\/p><\/div>\n A. Composition and command <\/u><\/p><\/div>\n (a) Composition<\/u><\/p><\/div>\n 2. The composition of UNIFIL as of 3 June 1982 was as follows: Infantry<\/u> battalions<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n Infantry battalions<\/u><\/p><\/div>\n Fiji\t<\/span>628<\/p><\/div>\n France\t<\/span>595<\/p><\/div>\n Ghana\t<\/span>557<\/p><\/div>\n Ireland\t<\/span>671<\/p><\/div>\n Nepal\t<\/span>432<\/p><\/div>\n Netherlands\t<\/span>810<\/p><\/div>\n Nigeria\t<\/span>696<\/p><\/div>\n Norway\t<\/span>660<\/p><\/div>\n Senegal\t<\/span>561<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n Headquarters camp command<\/u><\/p><\/div>\n Ghana\t<\/span>140<\/p><\/div>\n Ireland\t<\/span>51<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n Logistic units<\/u><\/p><\/div>\n France\t<\/span>775<\/p><\/div>\n Italy\t<\/span>34<\/p><\/div>\n Norway\t<\/span>191<\/p><\/div>\n Sweden\t<\/span>144<\/u><\/p><\/div>\n \t<\/span>6945<\/p><\/div>\n In addition to the above personnel, UNIFIL was assisted by 87 military observers of the Âé¶¹APP Truce Supervision Organization (UNTSO). These unarmed observers were under the operational control of the Force Commander of UNIFIL.<\/p><\/div>\n 3.\t<\/span>In its resolution 501 (1982) of 25 February 1982, the Security Council approved an increase in the strength of UNIFIL from approximately 6,000 to approximately 7,000. On 25 April, I informed the Council of the steps taken in that regard (S\/14996, para. 5). Since then, the Governments of Ghana, Ireland and Norway strengthened their contingents to the levels indicated above, and a French infantry battalion arrived in the UNIFIL area of operation on 28 Hay 1982, together with additional French logistic personnel.<\/p><\/div>\n (b) Command<\/u><\/p><\/div>\n Command of UNIFIL continued to be exercised by Lieutenant-General ELliam Callaghan.<\/p><\/div>\n (c). Rotation of contingents<\/u><\/p><\/div>\n 5.\t<\/span>During the period covered by this report all contingents carried out rotations. <\/p><\/div>\n (d) <\/i>Casualties<\/u><\/p><\/div>\n (6). During the period under review, 5 members of the Force lost their lives and 17 were wounded. Of the fatalities, 1 died as a result of hostile action and the its <\/i>in accidents or from natural causes.<\/p><\/div>\n 7.\t<\/span>Since UNIFIL was established, 75 members of the Force have died, 34 of them as result of firing and mine explosions, 31 in accidents and 10 from natural causes. 115 have been wounded in armed clashes, shellings and mine explosions.<\/p><\/div>\n (e) Discipline<\/u><\/p><\/div>\n 8.\t<\/span>The discipline, devotion and bearing of the members of UNIFIL, as well as of the UNTSO military observers assigned to the Force, who have continued to serve in difficult and often hazardous conditions, reflect credit on themselves, their commanders and their countries.<\/p><\/div>\n B. Deployment<\/u><\/p><\/div>\n 9.\t<\/span>Significant changes in deployment were made as a result of the increase in the strength of the Force. The newly strengthened Ghanaian battalion took over from the Nigerian battalion a company-size area encompassing the villages of Tulin and Qabrikha. The new French battalion was deployed in the central and eastern sectors of the area previously assigned to the Nigerian battalion, which, in turn, was redeployed in the eastern part of the Senegalese battalion area of operation. The Irish battalion took over a small sector of the Ghanaian area.<\/p><\/div>\n 10. UNTSO military observers, organized as Observer Group Lebanon (OGL), continued to man five observation posts (Lab, Hin, Ras, Mar, Khiam) along the Lebanese side of the 1949 Israel-Lebanon armistice demarcation line. In addition, seven UNTSO teams assisted UNIFIL in the performance of its tasks. A team based in Metulla (Israel) served as liaison with the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) in that locality and, through the latter, with the headquarters of the de facto<\/u> forces (Christian and associated militias) in Marjayoun. A team based in Tyre served as liaison with local representatives of the armed elements (mainly Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and Lebanese National Movement) and Amal (Lebanese Shi'ite armed organization). The number of mobile teams, whose primary functions were to prevent and investigate incidents, was increased from four to five. A new eighth team manned a Âé¶¹APP position near Chateau de Beaufort which was re-established on 31 March 1982 (see S\/14996, para. 7).<\/p><\/div>\n 11. The deployment of UNIFIL as of 3 June was as follows (see annexed map):<\/p><\/div>\n (a)\t<\/span>The Fores headquarters remained located at Naqoura;<\/p><\/div>\n (b)\t<\/span>The Senegalese battalion was deployed in the northern part of the western sector, with its headquarters at Marakah;<\/p><\/div>\n (c)\t<\/span>The Nigerian battalion was deployed in the northern part of the central sector, with its headquarters at Tayr Zibna;<\/p><\/div>\n (d)\t<\/span>The French battalion was deployed in the north-eastern part of the central sector, with its headquarters at Burj Qallawiyah;<\/p><\/div>\n (e)\t<\/span>The Ghanaian battalion was deployed in the eastern part of the central sector, with its headquarters at Kafr Dunin;<\/p><\/div>\n (f)\t<\/span>The Irish battalion was deployed in the south-eastern part of the central sector, with its headquarters at Tibnin;<\/p><\/div>\n (g)\t<\/span>The Dutch battalion was deployed in the south-western part of the central sector, with its headquarters at Haris;<\/p><\/div>\n (h) The Fijian battalion was deployed in the southern part of the western sector, with its headquarters at Qana;<\/p><\/div>\n (i) The Nepalese battalion was deployed in the western part of the eastern sector, with its headquarters at Blate;<\/p><\/div>\n (j) The Norwegian battalion was deployed in the eastern part of the eastern sector, with its headquarters at Ebel es-Saqi;<\/p><\/div>\n (k) The headquarters camp command, composed of Ghanaian and Irish troops, was based at Naqoura;<\/p><\/div>\n (l)\t<\/span>The French logistic component was located at Naqoura;<\/p><\/div>\n (m)\t<\/span>The French engineer company was located at Al Hinniyah;<\/p><\/div>\n (n)\t<\/span>Two Ghanaian engineer platoons were based at Naqoura;<\/p><\/div>\n (o)\t<\/span>The Norwegian maintenance company was located in the vicinity of Tibnin;<\/p><\/div>\n (p) The Italian helicopter wing was based at Naqoura;<\/p><\/div>\n (q) The Swedish medical company was located at Naqoura;<\/p><\/div>\n (r) The Observer Group Lebanon was based at Naqoura;<\/p><\/div>\n (s) A UNIFIL guard detachment, whose strength was reduced to 25 men, drawn from the infantry battalions of the Force on a four-week rotation basis was stationed in Tyre barracks;<\/p><\/div>\n (t) The Military Police company was based at Naqoura and functioned throughout the UNIFIL area of operation and outside it, as required.<\/p><\/div>\n 12.\t<\/span>The Lebanese national army unit, under the operational control of the UNIFIL commander, remained at an approximate strength of 1,350, all ranks. Its headquarters continued to be located at Arzun and subunits were attached to UNIFIL battalions. A guard platoon as well as an engineer company were stationed at Tyre barracks. The unit as a whole continued to be involved in patrolling and in manning observation posts and check-points jointly with UNIFIL.<\/p><\/div>\n 13.\t<\/span>The Lebanese engineer company continued to improve existing buildings and to construct shelters. It also undertook projects for the benefit of the civilian population in the UNIFIL area of operation. A Lebanese army engineer platoon completed its assignment with the French engineer company at Al Hinniyah.<\/p><\/div>\n 14.\t<\/span>UNIFIL continued to receive the close co-operation of the Lebanese Internal Security Forces (ISF), and operational matters of common concern were regularly discussed at co-ordination meetings held under the chairmanship of the Governor of South Lebanon.<\/p><\/div>\n II. ADMINISTRATION AND LOGISTICS<\/p><\/div>\n 15.\t<\/span>Progress was achieved in developing the physical infrastructure and other facilities required by the Force. The hiring of local labour to assist the various battalions in routine duties enabled military personnel to be released for operational tasks. Additionally, the assignment of Field Service officers to individual battalions has facilitated the handling of administrative matters. However, difficulties continued to be faced, especially as regards vehicle maintenance.<\/p><\/div>\n A. Accommodation<\/u><\/p><\/div>\n 16. The prefabricated building programme was stepped up. Forty-nine buildings were erected. Work on 21 structures, including ammunition magazines, workshops, petrol stations and a pump house, was begun.<\/p><\/div>\n B. Communications<\/u><\/p><\/div>\n 17. A fully automatic telephone system linking UNIFIL headquarters with Beirut, all the battalions and UNDOF was completed. In addition, work on a microwave link between Beirut and Naqoura was undertaken. Steps were also taken to improve telephone communications with the battalions. The French logistic component was provided with a separate radio channel.<\/p><\/div>\n C. Logistics<\/u><\/p><\/div>\n 18.\t<\/span>Logistic support for UNIFIL continued to be provided by a headquarters logistic branch, the French logistic component, the Norwegian maintenance unit, the Ghanaian engineer unit, the Swedish medical company and the Italian helicopter wing. <\/p><\/div>\n 19.\t<\/span>During the reporting period, considerable efforts were made to reduce delivery time for spare parts through an expanded direct provisioning system covering a wider range of vehicle and equipment makes. Petrol supply from the Zahrani refinery was satisfactory, and contingents reserves were increased.<\/p><\/div>\n 20.\t<\/span>Efforts continued to increase further the procurement of goods and services in Lebanon and to use to the largest possible extent the facilities of the Beirut port, which became the main port of entry for items arriving in the area.<\/p><\/div>\n 21.\t<\/span>Despite some progress, including the general overhaul of vehicles of the French, Irish and Dutch contingents in their countries, the UNIFIL fleet of vehicles continued to pose maintenance problems. Many vehicles could no longer be economically repaired and had to be replaced. Some 100 vehicles, mainly jeeps and trucks, were ordered. Despite the improvement of workshop facilities, the maintenance of armoured personnel carriers continued to be a problem.<\/p><\/div>\n 22.\t<\/span>In co-operation with the competent Lebanese authorities, UNIFIL continued work to augment water supply to its Naqoura headquarters as well as to the various battalions. Progress was made in gradually connecting UNIFIL to the Lebanese electricity grid. With the assistance of the office of the Governor of South Lebanon, urgently needed repairs commenced on the road from Al Hinniyah to Zibqin in the western sector of the area of operation.<\/p><\/div>\n 23.\t<\/span>During the reporting period, the French engineer company defused or exploded 150 shells, mines, grenades and traps, and neutralized 140 cluster bombs. It also cleared some 10,000 square metres of ground of mines. In addition, it moved 60,000 cubic metres of earth, levelling building sites, digging trenches and maintenance pits, and clearing approximately 40 kilometres of new tracks in the area of operation.<\/p><\/div>\n 24.\t<\/span>The UNIFIL hospital at Naqoura, operated by the Swedish medical company, continued to provide health and hygiene services to the Force and to the civilian population in an integrated effort with the battalion centres and Lebanese medical facilities. During the period under review, the out-patient clinic treated 4,646 patients – 1,997 UNIFIL personnel and 2,649 Lebanese civilians. In the same period, the hospital admitted 450 patients – 225 UNIFIL personnel and 225 Lebanese civilians. In its surgical unit, 221 operations were performed. A total of 1,603 X-ray examinations and 5,296 laboratory analyses were conducted, and the hospital dentist treated 705 patients. Further, battalion medical centres continued to provide assistance to the local population. In particularly serious cases, which could not receive adequate treatment at the Naqoura hospital, UNIFIL was able, as in the past, to resort to the services of Rambam Hospital in Haifa.<\/p><\/div>\n 25.\t<\/span>The Italian helicopter wing was again instrumental in providing air transport for serious medical cases. UNIFIL personnel as well as Lebanese civilians requiring urgent treatment were evacuated to the hospital at Naqoura. Thirty-six such evacuations, 19 of them at night, were carried out, often in hazardous conditions. In four instances, the helicopters came under fire by armed elements. The helicopter wing also carried out essential logistic support activities. During the reporting period, it transported 3,140 passengers and 67 tons of cargo. Its vital role was particularly evident in periods of tension or reduced freedom of movement.<\/p><\/div>\n III. FUNCTIONS AND ACTIVITIES OF THE FORCE <\/p><\/div>\n A. Guidelines and terms of reference<\/u><\/p><\/div>\n 26. UNIFIL continued to operate in accordance with the guidelines set out in the Secretary-General's report of 19 March 1978 (S\/12611) on the implementation of Security Council resolution 425 (1978), which was approved by the Council in its resolution 426 (1978). According to that report, UNIFIL was envisaged as a two-stage operation. In the first stage, the Force was to confirm the withdrawal Israeli forces from Lebanese territory to the international border. Once that was achieved, UNIFIL was to establish and maintain an area of operation. In that connexion, the Force was to supervise the cessation of hostilities, ensure the peaceful character of the area of operation, control movement and assist the Government of Lebanon in ensuring the return of its authority in the area.<\/p><\/div>\n B. Co-operation with UNTSO<\/u><\/p><\/div>\n 27. UNTSO military observers continued to assist UNIFIL and to co-operate in the performance of its tasks under the institutional arrangements described in paragraph 10 above.<\/p><\/div>\n 28. As indicated in my special report of 25 April 1982 (S\/14996 and Corr.l), I <\/i>instructed the Chief of Staff of UNTSO, in pursuance of Security Council resolution 501 (1982) , to contact the Israeli and Lebanese Governments, with a view to reactivating the General Armistice Agreement of 23 March 1949 and the convening of an early meeting of the Israel-Lebanon Mixed Armistice Commission (ILMAC). In the course of those contacts, the parties reiterated their positions on those matters. . Despite the efforts of the Chief of Staff, it was not possible to arrange a meeting.<\/p><\/div>\n C. Contacts with the parties<\/u><\/p><\/div>\n 29.\t<\/span>During the period under review, contacts with the parties concerned were maintained both at Âé¶¹APP Headquarters and in the area, with a view to implementing the UNIFIL mandate. In the early days of February 1982, Mr. Brian Urquhart, Under-Secretary-General for Special Political Affairs, travelled to the area at my request. He held discussions on the situation in southern Lebanon with the President of Lebanon and senior officials of that Government, the Chairman of the Palestine Liberation Organization and the Prime Minister and senior officials of the Israeli Government. I informed the Security Council of those contacts in my special report of 16 February 1982 (S\/14869).<\/p><\/div>\n 30.\t<\/span>General Callaghan and his senior staff were in continuous contact with the parties on matters regarding the deployment and functioning of the Force. In addition and in accordance with Security Council resolutions 488 (1981), 498 (1981) and 501 (1982), meetings were held with Lebanese officials and, in particular, with the army Commander, with a view to achieving progress on a joint phased programme of activities for the implementation of resolution 425 (1978). In the area of operation, negotiations and consultations were held by members of UNIFIL with the various armed groups, as required.<\/p><\/div>\n 31.\t<\/span>In Jerusalem, Major-General Erskine, Chief of Staff of UNTSO, and his senior staff maintained contact with the Israeli authorities, as necessary, on matters pertaining to UNIFIL. In Beirut, ILMAC headquarters continued to function as a liaison office for UNIFIL. Mr. Iqbal A. Akhund, who is serving in Beirut as Co-ordinator of Assistance for Reconstruction and Development of Lebanon, continued to assist UNIFIL, while the support of the Âé¶¹APP information centre in Beirut remained most useful to the Force in its relations with the media.<\/p><\/div>\n D. Situation in southern Lebanon and activities of UNIFIL<\/u><\/p><\/div>\n 32.\t<\/span>The situation as of 10 December 1981 was described in the last periodic report (S\/14789 and Corr.l). After examining that report, the Security Council, on 18 December 1981, adopted resolution 498 (1981), in which it renewed the mandate of UNIFIL for a further period of six months and reiterated its determination to implement resolution 425 (1978) in the totality of the area of operation assigned to UNIFIL up to the internationally recognized boundaries. Subsequently, the Council adopted resolution 501 (1982), in which it once again reaffirmed its resolution 425 (1978).<\/p><\/div>\n 33.\t<\/span>During the period under review, the activities of armed elements, Amal, the de facto<\/u> forces and IDF within and near the UNIFIL area of operation continued. Clashes originating outside the UNIFIL area often had repercussions within it. This was particularly so at the end of January and in mid-April, when violent clashes occurred between Amal and groups associated with the Lebanese National Movement. In the course of April, there were also several incidents in Brashit, in the Irish battalion sector, where houses were blown up by unidentified intruders and three Lebanese were shot. While the number of hostile actions directed against UNIFIL itself was comparatively limited, there was a fatal incident on 2 January 1982, in which two Ghanaian soldiers guarding a UNIFIL position were attacked by unidentified persons and one of the soldiers was shot and subsequently died.<\/p><\/div>\n (a) Incidents involving armed elements<\/u><\/p><\/div>\n\n
\n <\/td>\n <\/p>\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n <\/td>\n \n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n