Another delay in this process is not what we hoped would happen, not least because it continues a violation of United Nations Security Council resolution 1701 (2006). This should not, however, overshadow the tangible progress that has been made since the Understanding came into force in late November. The Israel Defense Forces have withdrawn from population centres in southern Lebanon and the Lebanese Armed Forces have deployed in challenging conditions, supporting the return of communities and working to restore critical services. Meanwhile, the new Lebanese President and Government are determined to extend state authority completely in all areas in the south and consolidate stability to prevent conflict from returning to Lebanon. They deserve unwavering support in this endeavour. Much of the hard work to realize the commitments made in the November Understanding, and in resolution 1701, is still ahead of us. We call on both parties to meet their obligations. A sense of safety among communities of southern Lebanon, who are grappling with the wide-scale destruction of their villages and towns, as well as residents of northern Israel who had to leave their homes, will not be built overnight and cannot come from a continuation of military operations. Rather, sustained political commitment is the only way forward.Ultimately, Lebanon and Israel must make the solutions envisaged by the November Understanding and resolution 1701 a reality, on both sides of the Blue Line. The United Nations in Lebanon stands ready to continue supporting all efforts in that direction. *****, filtered_html

This evening’s attack on a UNIFIL convoy near Beirut Airport is unacceptable. Such an act of violence threatens the safety of United Nations staff who work tirelessly to maintain stability in Lebanon, sometimes at great personal risk.The United Nations remains committed to working with the Lebanese Government and all relevant stakeholders to preserve stability and implement United Nations Security Council resolution 1701 (2006). A full, transparent investigation must urgently be pursued to bring the perpetrators to justice. We wish UNIFIL colleagues involved in the incident a speedy recovery.*****, filtered_html

Much has changed in Lebanon since the Cessation of Hostilities Understanding came into force in the early hours of 27 November 2024.Violence has dramatically decreased. In many areas of southern Lebanon, hundreds of thousands of people have been able to return to their towns and villages. The Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) have shown resolve in deploying to positions from which the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) are withdrawing. Supported by UNIFIL, the LAF is helping to restore services and facilitating humanitarian access to communities most affected by conflict. Moreover, the ongoing government formation process, following the election of a president and the designation of a prime minister, is a critical step in building trust between Lebanese citizens and the State. These developments also augur well for prospective support to the full extension of state authority over all Lebanese territory and for the country’s recovery, reconstruction and growth. The fact is that the timelines envisaged in the November Understanding have not been met. As seen tragically this morning, conditions are not yet in place for the safe return of citizens to their villages along the Blue Line. Displaced communities, already facing a long road to recovery and reconstruction, are therefore once again being called on to exercise caution. Also, violations of United Nations Security Council resolution 1701 (2006) continue to be recorded daily.Compliance by both parties with their obligations under the November Understanding and the full implementation of resolution 1701 constitute the only way to bring closure to the recent, dark chapter of conflict and open a new one, heralding security, stability and prosperity on both sides of the Blue Line. The United Nations continues to engage all actors towards this end and remains ready to support any action consistent with resolution 1701 and the efforts of the Implementation Mechanism to achieve the objectives of the November Understanding. With so much at stake for both Lebanon and Israel, recommitment is urgently needed from all sides. , filtered_html

“Due to the war, the beginning of the 2024-2025 scholastic year was challenging for children, parents and caregivers, teachers and schools. UNICEF supported the Ministry of Education and Higher Education’s (MEHE) emergency response to prevent a lost school year by quickly resuming learning when it was safe and practical. This was not only essential for children’s learning and development but also provided them with much-needed social and emotional stability.“But the job is not yet complete. We urge the Government of Lebanon to continue to place education at the top of the political agenda with a commitment to equitable and efficient domestic public financing to ensure that every child, especially the most vulnerable, can access quality, safe and inclusive education.“Progress has been made in the education sector in recent years, including through the Transition and Resilience Education Fund (TREF), but there remains a severe education and learning crisis in Lebanon with many children, especially the most marginalised, far behind their peers in the region. The number of out-of-school children has significantly increased since 2019, with 1 in 3 children of all school-aged children in Lebanon now estimated to be out of school or out of learning.“UNICEF and donors remain committed to providing substantial resources to formal and non-formal education programmes in close coordination with MEHE, to ensure that all children in Lebanon have access to education without discrimination. However, we are deeply concerned about barriers limiting access to some children’s right to education. Children should not pay the price of conflicts or political decisions. Preventing equitable access to education risks leaving many children out of school and jeopardizes the investments made, particularly in Lebanon’s public school system.“Given the negative impacts on children, teachers, and the wider public school system, we strongly encourage decisions that allow all children, regardless of their status, to enrol and attend schools. Children, young people, and teachers should be at the centre of all national efforts to redesign schooling for every child.  “Our partnership with the Government to support education in Lebanon is strong, and we hope to continue our collaboration with partners to accelerate the reforms initiated by MEHE to build a quality, inclusive, and efficient education system.“We are optimistic that together we can build an education system that equips every child in Lebanon with the skills needed for a brighter future.” ##### Notes to editors:Since the establishment of the TREF, UNICEF, with the generous support of international partners, has been allocating over USD 85m million annually to support MEHE programmes on education which reach children in public schools, and which accelerate progress to improve performance of the education system. Highlights include:   - Disbursing funds in USD directly to 1,074 public schools which allow for schools to cover basic costs of operations. All children in public schools benefit from this investment, no matter what their nationality. In the absence of domestic government funding for school operating costs, TREF disbursements have been critical in supporting functioning of Lebanon’s public schools.   - Paying directly in USD the salaries of 14,000 Lebanese special contract teachers and educational staff across morning and afternoon shifts; contributing to their ability to make ends meet during an unprecedented economic crisis- Printing more than 2.8 million textbooks in math, languages and sciences to cover all students registered in public schools from KG to Grade 12.- Supporting MEHE develop the National Inclusive Education Policy for Children with Disabilities and related costed Action Plan and Operational Handbook for schools. In addition, UNICEF supports the scale-up of inclusive education for children with disabilities in 110 public schools. - Rehabilitating 110 public schools and solarizing 272 public schools to reduce reliance on expensive fuel and ensure access to reliable energy. - Constructing 4 new public schools equipped with solar energy systems.- Launching the Madristi, a free to access digital learning platform for blended and remote learning, and aligned to the Lebanese curriculum About UNICEFWorking in Lebanon for over 70 years, UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. Across more than 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, to build a better world for everyone.For more information about UNICEF Lebanon and our work for children, visit www.unicef.org/lebanon/ For media queries please contact: Blanche Baz, bbaz@unicef.org +961 3 331 874Maya Outayek, moutayek@unicef.org +961 70 190 634 , filtered_html