The United Nations peacekeeping mission in Lebanon on Monday began a partial resumption of troop rotations after UN secretary-general Antonio Guterres suspended all rotations, repatriations and deployments in April to curb the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic.
“I would like to reiterate that UNIFIL personnel will continue to strictly follow the robust precautionary measures that have been in place since the very beginning of the virus outbreak in order to prevent its spread,” said UNIFIL Head of Mission and Force Commander Stefano Del Col.
“Such measures will apply to all of our personnel: those living in UN positions and communities, those returning home, newly incoming personnel and those returning from leave,” Del Col.
The rotations will last for six months and are based on a rigorous quarantine regime and in accordance with WHO guidelines and Lebanese Government policies, according the UNIFIL statement.
"All the precautionary measures and decisions on this issue have been coordinated in close consultation with the Lebanese authorities," said the statement. The next review is due in October, it said.
During the rotation period, all UNIFIL personnel are required to undergo a quarantine period in their home country before deploying to Lebanon, and also in the mission area, upon their arrival in Lebanon.
UNIFIL is making all the appropriate arrangements for the secure transportation of the incoming units and personnel to their designated quarantine facility inside our UNIFIL bases in south Lebanon.
The mission will ensure that the quarantine measures are effective and strictly observed by all personnel, the statement said.
