UNIFIL dispels rumors of Blue Line violation by Israeli Army

 

The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon”s (UNIFIL) spokeswoman denied on Thursday rumors that the Israeli Army crossed the Blue Line, established by the UN to demarcate the border with Israel after the latter withdrew from most of the South in 2000.

 

In a press release, Yasmina Bouzianne said the Israeli Army did not cut across the Blue Line through the town of Ghajar, nor was the army lined up along the Wazzani River, contrary to information that was circulated by the press earlier Thursday.

 

“The Israeli Army did not extend past its area of operations. They are working in the area under their control,” Bouzianne added.

 

Separately,  Japanese Ambassador Yoshihisa Kurodam, UNICEF representative Roberto Laurenti, and South Lebanon Water Authority Director Ahmad Nizam inaugurated a new water reservoir in the Southern village of Khiyam Thursday. The tank has a capacity of 1,000 cubic meters and provides daily water provisions to approximately 30,000 inhabitants.

 

This project is one of many the Japanese government has financed within its $1 million support projects to UNICEF assisted undertakings in areas affected by the summer war of 2006.
 

Funds from the $1 million contribution were used for the rehabilitation of about a dozen water-storage tanks and two control rooms in the South.

 

Part of the funds were used for the improvement of water quality through filtration and disinfection at 10 schools in the South and 22 chlorination systems have also been installed in 22 villages covering about 100,000 individuals. A solid-waste recycling and re-use project in schools is also benefiting from this contribution.

 

“UNICEF is still committed to improving access to clean drinking water for communities and providing effective water and sanitation services in more public schools during 2008,” Laurenti said.”

 

“Therefore UNICEF is now involved on a resource-mobilization strategy to obtain sufficient funding from donors to improve the quality of life for many people in the most affected areas in the South,” he added. “The Japanese donation has been instrumental in reducing the human suffering by providing adequate access to safe water and basic sanitation along with hygiene education.”