UN Force In Lebanon All Efforts To Help Civilians

UN FORCE IN LEBANON EXERTING ALL POSSIBLE EFFORTS TO HELP CIVILIANS – SPOKESMAN

New York, Jul 17 2006 2:00PM

Despite limitations imposed by the current fighting in the Middle East, the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) is exerting all possible efforts to protect civilians affected by the violence, a spokesman for the world body said today.

“Categorically” rejecting allegations in the Lebanese media about UNIFIL denying support to civilians, spokesman Stephane Dujarric told reporters in New York that the Force “continues to do everything possible to help civilians threatened by the current hostilities within its area of operations.”

The spokesman noted that the peacekeeping mission’s capacity to help “is regrettably limited, since in present circumstances, it cannot even re-supply its own personnel.”

UNIFIL’s “general advice to civilians is to remain in their villages unless specifically advised to leave, and in the latter case, to move northward in small groups,” Mr. Dujarric said.

“Experience has shown that large concentrations of people are more likely to be attacked, no matter what flag they may be carrying,” he observed.

2006-07-17 00:00:00.000

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