(Pramod Raj Sedhain's report after returning from Lebanon)
With a substantial number of Nepal Army (NA) personnel already serving as peacekeepers in different 34 different countries, there has been an increasing exigency of NA peacekeepers in the conflict-affected nations. In recent times, the number of NA personnel deployed in peace keeping missions has increased by 43 per cent compared to previous year. Similarly, the demand of NA personnel in the peace keeping force is increasing. Recently, UN officials have demanded additional NA personnel to be deployed in the peacekeeping mission. However, despite the high demand, NA army leadership has not been able to meet the demands owing to various problems, including lack of budget, resource and adequate training. NA personnel are deployed in various conflict-hit countries, especially in Lebanon and Chad. For them, Lebanon and Chad are considered to be tough and challenging. Since any peacekeeping force needs to have their own armored personnel carrier (APC) vehicle, the NA personnel too should have its own APC as per the provision. The United Nations (UN) decided to send observers from various countries to Lebanon after Syrian army moved into a part of the Lebanon territory in 1958. One among the several countries was Nepal to send its observers. Initially, Nepal sent five army personnel as observers to Lebanon. These observers were later christened as peace keepers. This was how the history of peace keeping force made its existence in Lebanon. Nepal Army has showed its presence in Lebanon since 1978. Currently, the number of Nepal Army deployed as peacekeepers in the Lebanon Mission has reached 868 out of which 18 are stationed in the UN headquarters in Nakura. The process of sending Nepalese army to Lebanon was stalled during 2000 for six years. The Nepal Army has been entrusted to look after the most sensitive and controversial 86 square-meter region in the region. Till date, some 26 Nepalese army personnel have died in the Lebanon mission. Nepal stands fifth in sending its army to the peace keeping force while in Lebanon, the strength of the Nepalese stands in the third position. The demand of Nepalese army in Lebanon is increasing and the UN has demanded additional 150 army personnel. The number of Nepalese army in Lebanon will be the second if the additional numbers of army personnel are deployed in Lebanon. Nepal Army personnel in Lebanon are working under extreme complexities with very little resources, equipment and other facilities. This is why the government has been providing double the salary provided by the UN to the peacekeepers working in Lebanon. The Blue Line or Aitran is the most controversial area at the border of Israel and Lebanon. The Blue Line is an imaginary line established in 2006 after the war between Israel and Lebanon. This imaginary line was established after a tripartite agreement comprising UN, Israel and Lebanon. From then onwards, peace keeping forces have been deployed at this imaginary line of 18 kilometers. This is also the area where peasants of Lebanon do farming. As a result, this region often comes under controversy. Immediate possibility of permanent peace in Lebanon seems extremely slim. Nepal Army are currently stationed at the Hezbollah strong-hold, controversial border line and the area form where the Hezbollah launch mortars at the Israeli side.Besides, more interestingly, the Nepal Army personnel have won the hearts of the people of Lebanon in many ways. Apart from their duties, they assist locals to harvesting Olive, providing health facilities and treatment, education and in other sectors, including providing drinking water, as well.
Some 3,300 NA peacekeepers were deployed in the year 2008. The number increased to four thousand 500 personnel in till December 2009. The Nepal Army is planning to increase the number by another five hundred. The number of NA personnel increased after the NA made a request to send additional soldiers to Sudan. Four thousand five hundred personnel of the Nepal Army have been deployed in 13 missions already. The government has received the nod for additional 500 more personnel while the UN wants the number to be increased to six thousand. Till date, the NA has already served in more than 34 missions. In the last 51 years, 75 thousand NA personnel have been deputed in various missions worldwide while 57 NA personnel have died during the peacekeeping mission.
