UNIFIL - SecGen report - Question of Palestine

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Financing of the United Nations Peacekeeping Forces in the Middle East:

United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon

Report of the Secretary-General

Summary

The present report contains the financial performance report of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) covering the period from 1 July 1996 to 30 June 1997, for which resources amounting to $125,722,800 gross ($122,665,800 net) were provided. Corresponding expenditures amount to $126,744,400 gross ($123,504,400 net), resulting in additional requirements of $1,021,600 gross ($838,600 net). Of the additional requirements, an amount of $639,356 relates to the incident at Qana and will be charged to the financial authorization granted under the terms of paragraph 7 of General Assembly resolution 51/233 of 13 June 1997. The remaining additional requirements in the amount of $382,244 gross ($199,244 net) are attributable mainly to the upward revision in local staff salaries by 61.8 per cent effective 1 March 1997; the share of UNIFIL towards the financing of the United Nations Logistics Base, Brindisi; and the recording of certain expenditures pertaining to the financial period ending 30 June 1996 in the reporting period.

The action to be taken by the General Assembly as contained in paragraph 12 of the report includes an additional appropriation and assessment of $382,244 gross ($199,244 net) for the period from 1 July 1996 to 30 June 1997.

Contents

			Paragraphs	Page
I. II. III. IV.	Introduction Financial performance report for the period from 1 July 1996 to 30 June 1997 Costs in connection with damages resulting from the incident at Qana on 18 April 1996 Action to be taken by the General Assembly at its fifty-second session		1-3 3-9 10-11 12	3 3 4 5

Annexes
I. II.	Financial performance report for the period from 1 July 1996 to 30 June 1997 Financial performance report for the period from 1 July 1996 to 30 June 1997: supplementary information			6 10
	A. B.	Detailed variances in requirements and costs Supplementary explanation		10 15
III.	Authorized staffing and actual deployment of military and civilian personnel for the period from 1 July 1996 to 30 June 1997			25

I. Introduction

1. The Security Council, by its resolution 1151 (1998) of 30 January 1998, extended the mandate of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) to 31 July 1998.

2. The financial provision for the period from 1 July 1996 to 30 June 1997 to maintain the operation of UNIFIL was approved by the General Assembly in its resolution 50/89 B of 7 June 1996, which appropriated to the Special Account for UNIFIL the amount of $125,722,800 gross ($122,665,800 net) for the period from 1 July 1996 to 30 June 1997, and apportioned the same amount among Member States.

II. Financial performance report for the period from 1 July 1996 to 30 June 1997

3. Column 1 of annex I to the present report sets out by budget line item the cost estimates for maintaining UNIFIL for the period from 1 July 1996 to 30 June 1997, as contained in annex I to the report of the Secretary-General of 20 February 1996 (A/50/543/Add.1). The apportionment of the appropriation of $125,722,800 gross ($122,665,800 net) provided under resolution 50/89 B is shown in column 2. Non-recurrent and recurrent expenditures are shown in columns 3 and 4, respectively. The expenditures recorded for the period are shown in column 5. Unliquidated obligations are shown in column 6. Variances, which reflect differences between the apportionment of resources and the actual expenditures, are shown in column 7 and result in additional requirements of $1,021,600 gross ($838,600 net) inclusive of the costs directly attributable to the incident at Qana on 18 April 1996 ($209,251) and costs related to the relocation of the Fiji battalion headquarters ($430,105).

4. Supplementary information on the financial performance report is presented by budget line item in annex II. The authorized staffing, incumbency and vacancy rates for civilian and military personnel for the reporting period are shown in annex III.

5. As shown in annex I, column 2, the total resources made available to UNIFIL for the period from 1 July 1996 to 30 June 1997 amounted to $125,722,800 gross ($122,714,600 net). Expenditures recorded during the period (column 5) amount to $126,744,400 gross ($123,504,400 net). These include costs directly attributable to the incident at Qana as well as for the relocation of the Fiji battalion headquarters ($639,356) and the UNIFIL share towards the financing of the United Nations Logistics Base at Brindisi for the period from 1 July 1996 to 30 June 1997 ($436,300).

6. Expenditures totalling $2,995,200 for the period ending 30 June 1996 were recorded in the period from 1 July 1996 to 30 June 1997. Details are contained in table 1.

7. The reported expenditures during the period under review, excluding costs related to the Qana incident, were higher than their estimated costs and resulted in additional requirements mainly as a result of the upward revision in local staff salaries by 61.8 per cent effective 1 March 1997, an increase in the price of fuel, the share of UNIFIL towards the financing of the United Nations Logistics Base and the recording of certain expenditures pertaining to the prior financial period ending 30 June 1996.

Table 1

Expenditures for the period ending 30 June 1996

Description	Amount (United States dollars)

Military personnel costs
Contingent-owned equipment	1 123 000
Transport operations
Purchase of vehicles	847 000
Spare parts	816 000
Vehicle insurance	169 500
Communications
Communications equipment	23 000
Other equipment
Spare parts, repairs and maintenance	16 700
Total	2 995 200

8. Reported expenditures during the period were less than their estimated costs and resulted in unutilized balances under military personnel costs, supplies and services, and air and surface freight. The unutilized balances were due mainly to more favourable rates obtained for both commercial and government aircraft for troop rotations, the transfer of supplies from other missions and global requisitioning of freight charges for the transfer of items from other missions.

9. The additional requirements of $3,179,400 , exclusive of Qana, were offset in part by unutilized resources of $2,797,200, resulting in actual additional requirements of $382,200 (gross).

III. Costs in connection with damages resulting from the incident at Qana on 18 April 1996

10. In paragraph 7 of its resolution 51/233, the General Assembly authorized the Secretary-General to enter into commitments for UNIFIL in the amount of $1,773,618 to cover the costs resulting from the incident at the Fiji battalion headquarters at Qana on 18 April 1996. In paragraph 8 of the resolution, the Assembly decided that the total amount of $1,773,618 should be borne by Israel. To date, no payment has been received.

11. Of the commitment authorization of $1,773,618, actual ($1,030,640) and estimated ($131,153) expenditures as at 5 February 1998 amount to $1,161,793, leaving an unencumbered balance of $611,825. As indicated in annex II.B, the portion of expenditures incurred in connection with the incident at Qana in April 1996 and charged to the UNIFIL account during the period from 1 July 1996 to 30 June 1997 amounted to $639,356 and included maintenance supplies ($185,985), construction/prefab buildings ($365,663), communications equipment ($43,635), spare parts and supplies for communications equipment ($40,663) and medical treatment and services ($3,410). Details of the expenditures, by period, is shown in table 2.

Table 2

Expenditures associated with damages resulting from the incident at Qana on 18 April 1996

(United States dollars)

Financial period	Expenditures directly attributable to the incident of 18 April 1996	Expenditures related to the relocation of the Fiji battalion headquarters	Total expenditures

1 February – 30 June 1996	391 284	–	391 284
1 July 1996 – 30 June 1997	209 251	430 105	639 356
Subtotal			1 030 640
1 July 1997 – 30 June 1998 (Estimated)	–	131 153	131 153
Total	600 535	561 258	1 161 793

IV. Action to be taken by the General Assembly at its fifty-second session

12. The action to be taken by the General Assembly at its resumed fifty-second session in connection with the financing of UNIFIL includes an additional appropriation and assessment of $382,244 gross ($199,244 net) for the period from 1 July 1996 to 30 June 1997, exclusive of the amount of $639,356 for costs in connection with damages resulting from the incident at the Fiji battalion headquarters at Qana on 18 April 1996.

Annex II

Financial performance report for the period from 1 July 1996 to 30 June 1997: supplementary information

A. Detailed variances in requirements and costs

Description	Estimate		Actual
		Unit/ daily/ monthly/ annual cost		Unit/daily/ monthly/annual cost		Supplementary explanation (paragraph in section B)
	Number of units		Number of units		Explanation
		(Thousands of United States dollars)		(Thousands of United States dollars)
1. Military personnel costs						1-10
(a) Military observers					–
(b) Military contingents
Standard troop cost reimbursement	4 513	55 881		55 881	No change.
Welfare		776		765	Equipment transferred from UNPF.
Rations		9 249		8 056	Actual cost lower than projected.
Daily allowance		2 119		2 106	Slightly lower actual troop strength.
Travel and subsistence allowance		150		130	Reduction in number of trips and military police assigned to Netanya.
Emplacemen, rotation and repatriation of troops		7 577		5 502	Lower commercial flight costs and fewer repatriation cases.
Clothing and equipment allowance		3 810		3 810	No change.
(c) Other costs pertaining to military personnel
Contingent-owned equipment		–		1 123	Recording of 1996 obligation in 1997.
Death and disability compensation		1 000		1 000	No change.
2. Civilian personnel costs						11-17
(a) Civilian police					–
(b) International and local staff
International staff salaries		7 833		6 852	Vacancy rate approximately 14 per cent.
Local staff salaries		2 528		3 692	Increase in salary and non-pensionable bonus for General Service staff.
Overtime		66		4	Strict measures were implemented.
General temporary assistance		2 159		3 457	Special service agreement staff charged against general temporary assistance.
Common staff costs		7 400		7 456	Local staff salary increase.
Other travel costs		108		63	Only essential travel was undertaken.
3. Premises/ accommodation						18-22
Rental of premises		114		110	Reduced rental cost.
Maintenance supplies		600		781	Repair of extensive damage as a result of the incident at Qana in 1996.
Maintenance services		195		190	Actual cost lower than projected.
Utilities		220		214	Actual cost lower than projected.
Construction/prefabricated buildings		619		991	Operational decisions taken after the incident at Qana in 1996.
4. Infrastructure repairs					–	23
5. Transport operations						24-28
Purchase of vehicles		2 116		1 701	Vehicles transferred from other missions.
Workshop equipment		250		203	Actual cost lower than projected.
Spare parts, repairs and maintenance		4 788		4 995	Recording of 1996 obligation in 1997.
Petrol, oil and lubricants		1 985		2 350	Fuel price increase.
Vehicle insurance		229		573	Underbudgeting and inadvertent recording of expenditures.
6. Air operations						29-31
Helicopter operations
Hire/charter costs		1 140		1 311	Payment for third-party liability insurance.
Aviation fuel and lubricants		70		68	Actual cost lower than projected.
Liability and war-risk insurance		8		5	Partial recording of insurance coverage.
7. Naval operations					–	32
8. Communications						33-37
(a) Complementary communications
Communications equipment		410		713	Extensive damage as a result of the incident at Qana in April 1996.
Spare parts and supplies		335		350	Relocation of Fiji battalion headquarters.
Workshop and test equipment		37		38	Actual cost lower than projected.
Commercial communications		227		206	Lower usage of telex services.
(b) Main trunking contract					–
9. Other equipment						38-45
Office furniture		34		15	Transfer of requirements from the United Nations Logistics Base, Brindisi.
Office equipment		25		28	Replacement of worn-out equipment.
Data-processing equipment		–		240	Replacement of worn-out equipment, finalizing linking extremities and PC upgrades.
Observation equipment		157		224	Replacement of unbudgeted requirements.
Medical and dental equipment		43		41	Actual cost lower than projected.
Accommodation equipment		185		169	Transfer of requirements from UNPF.
Miscellaneous equipment		433		437	Purchase of specialized hand tools.
Spare parts, repairs and maintenance		1 115		1 135	Recording of 1996 obligation in 1997.
10. Supplies and services						46-56
(a) Miscellaneous services
Audit services		43		43	No change.
Contractual services		600		512	Lower cost for garbage collection and emptying cesspit tanks.
Security services		43		45	Higher monthly cost.
Medical treatment and services		150		201	Treatment provided by other hospitals, including treatment for three Fijian soldiers.
Miscellaneous other services		190		219	Payments for dog services from previous mandates.
(b) Miscellaneous supplies
Stationery and office supplies		191		190	Actual cost lower than projected.
Medical supplies		410		335	Transfer of requirements from other missions and donations received.
Sanitation and cleaning materials		84		123	Additional requirements necessary to maintain a minimum level of hygiene.
Subscriptions		38		38	Expenditure slightly higher than estimated
Uniform items, flags and decals		494		240	Sufficient stock of items and transfer received from UNPF.
Field defence stores		398		239	Transfer of requirements from UNPF.
Quartermaster and general stores		675		620	Transfer of requirements from other missions and the United Nations Logistics Base, Brindisi.
11. Election-related supplies and services					–	57
12. Public information programmes					–	58
13. Training programmes					–	59
14. Mine-clearing programmes					–	60
15. Assistance for disarmament and demobilization					–	61
16. Air and surface freight						62
Commercial freight and cartage		413		336	Global requisitioning of freight charges.
17. United Nations Logistics Base, Brindisi		–		436	Unbudgeted operating costs.	63
18. Support account for peacekeeping operations		2 966		2 966	No change.	64
19. Staff assessment		3 037		3 220	Local staff salary increase.	65
20. Income					Local staff salary increase.	66
Staff assessment		3 037		3 220
Other		20		20
21. Voluntary contributions in kind (budgeted)					–
Gross requirements		125 723		126 744
Net requirements		122 666		123 504
22. Voluntary contributions in kind (non-budgeted)					–
Total resources		122 666		123 504

B. Supplementary explanation

Variance

(United States dollars)

1. Military personnel costs

(a) Military observers………………………………………………………………………–

1. No provision was made under this heading.

(b) Military contingents ………………………………………………………….2 189 200

2. Standard troop cost reimbursement. The amount allocated has been fully obligated during the period.

3. Welfare. The unutilized balance of $121,300 resulted from the transfer of items such as trophies and medals from the United Nations Protection Force (UNPF).

4. Rations. Actual costs were lower than estimated, resulting in unutilized resources of $1,193,000. A comparison of the budgeted amount and actual costs is shown in table 1.

Table 1

Costs comparison for rations

(United States dollars)

Description	Cost estimates	Actual cost	Variances
SSI/Fra*zer	7 253 440	5 904 019	1 349 421
Dog rations	32 200	1 614	30 586
Composite rations	150 000	181 027	31 027
Local purchase	1 813 360	1 969 340	155 980
Total	9 249 000	8 056 000	1 193 000

5. Daily allowance. The average troop strength of 4,509 during the period was slightly lower in comparison with the budgeted strength of 4, 513, resulting in unutilized resources of $13,000.

6. Travel and subsistence allowance. The unutilized balance of $20,000 was due to the reduction in the number of military police assigned to Netanya, from five to three in May 1996 and the lower number of UNIFIL personnel travelling in the Tel Aviv/Netanya area.

7. Emplacement, rotation and repatriation of troops. Of the apportioned amount of $7,577,000, expenditures totalled $5,211,000, resulting in unutilized resources of $2,366,000. This was mainly attributable to the more favourable rates obtained for the charter of commercial and government aircraft as well as a lower than estimated number of repatriation cases for medical and compassionate reasons. Of the unutilized resources of $2,366,000, the amount of $290,900 was provided towards the financing of the United Nations Logistics Base at Brindisi, resulting in net unutilized resources of $2,075,100.

8. Clothing and equipment allowance. The amount allocated has been fully obligated during the period.

(c) Other costs pertaining to military personnel……………………… (1 123 200)

9. Contingent-owned equipment. The additional requirement of $1,123,200 was due to a number of obligations pertaining to the mandate period ending 30 June 1996 that were inadvertently recorded in the fiscal year 1996/97.

10. Death and disability compensation. The amount allocated has been fully obligated to cover potential claims. No related claim has been received to date.

2. Civilian personnel costs

(a) Civilian police ………………………………………………………………………….–

11. No provision was made under this heading.

(b) International and local staff……………………………………………(1 430 000)

12. International staff salaries. As shown in annex III, the average vacancy rate during the period was 14 per cent, resulting in unutilized resources of $981,400.

13. Local staff salaries. Additional requirements under local staff salaries were mainly attributable to: (a) the increase in local staff salaries by 61.8 per cent effective 1 March 1997; and (b) the payment of a non-pensionable bonus, equivalent to 5.56 months' salary, based on the previous salary scale applicable to Naqoura, Lebanon. The authorized number of established local staff posts was 193. There was an average of 20 vacant posts during the period. The vacant posts were utilized to hire 20 local staff on special service agreement at an average rate of $920 per person per month. The breakdown of expenditures is shown in table 2.

Table 2

Expenditures incurred for local staff salaries

(United States dollars)

Description		Amount

1. Apportionment		2 528 000
2. Expenditures
Salaries, July 1996-March 1997	2 054 120
Retroactive salary, March 1997	158 519
Salaries, April-June 1997	1 138 597
Non-pensionable, 5.56-month bonus	1 340 808
Subtotal	4 692 044
Less: Staff assessment	(1 000 344)
Total		3 691 700
3. Additional requirements (1 less 2)		(1 163 700)

14. Overtime. The unutilized amount of $61,800 was due to the implementation of a policy to provide compensatory time off to local staff in lieu of overtime payment. Authorization for overtime payment was granted only under exceptional circumstances.

15. General temporary assistance. The authorized number of local staff under general temporary assistance was 151. Under this category, there was an average of 133 local staff on board during the period, resulting in an average vacancy of 18. During the period, an average of 109 local staff were hired under special service agreement at an average rate of $920 per person per month. The breakdown of expenditures is shown in table 3.

Table 3

Expenditures incurred for general temporary assistance

(United States dollars)

Description		Amount

1. Apportionment		2 159 000
2. Expenditures
Salaries, July 1996-March 1997	1 294 800
Salaries, April-June 1997	655 900
Retroactive salary, March 1997	83 808
Bonus, 5.56-month	784 437
Special service agreement salaries	1 202 108
Subtotal	4 021 053
Less: Staff assessment	(564 028)
Total		3 457 025
3. Additional requirements (1 less 2)		(1 298 025)

16. Common staff costs. The additional requirement of $56,100 resulted from the increase in local staff salaries, as indicated in paragraph 13 above.

17. Other travel costs. The unutilized balance of $44,600 was due to the limitation of travel to the most essential requirements.

3. Premises/accommodation…………………………………………………….(536 700)

18. Rental of premises. The unutilized balance of $4,500 was mainly due to lower than estimated costs for the rental of premises, as shown in table 4.

Table 4

Rental costs

(United States dollars)

Location	Budget (A/50/543/Add.1)	Actual expenditure	Variances

UNIFIL House, Beirut	91 000	86 300	4 700
Military Police, Natanya	11 000	11 500	(500)
Recreation House, Nahariya	12 000	11 750	250
Total	114 000	109 550	4 450

19. Maintenance supplies. Additional requirements were attributable to the repair of extensive damages throughout the UNIFIL area of operations resulting from the incident at Qana in April 1996. Major activities included, but were not limited to, the repair of damage to existing buildings and alterations to the boundaries of the current camp at Fiji battalion position 1-20 at Qana; preparation of the electrical distribution system at the site for a new Fiji battalion headquarters, which will be reallocated as a result of the incident, which highlighted the fact that it is no longer operationally acceptable to have a battalion headquarters in a location encompassed by a growing town; repair of damage to buildings and electrical distribution system at Nepal battalion position 5-18; and placement of bulletproof glass into observation posts and completion of miscellaneous repairs to a number of other locations in the Fiji battalion and Nepal battalion areas. Supplies totalling $185,985 were procured as follows: corrugated iron sheets ($20,850), plexiglass windows ($4,055), aluminum sliding windows ($9,450), aluminum corrugated sheets ($4,150), bulletproof glass ($46,896), fence pickets ($7,274), electrical cables ($39,985) and electrical materials ($53,325). The additional requirements detailed above were reduced by unutilized resources of $5,385 since actual costs of miscellaneous supplies were lower than estimated. The resulting additional requirements therefore amounted to $180,600.

20. Maintenance services. Actual costs were slightly lower than estimated, resulting in an unutilized balance of $5,200.

21. Utilities. Actual costs were slightly lower than estimated, resulting in an unutilized balance of $6,000.

22. Construction/prefabricated buildings. Additional requirements of $371,800 resulted mainly from operational decisions taken after the incident at Qana. It was decided that the Fiji battalion headquarters would be relocated from Qana to a new site, which involved the following construction works for the new headquarters: double-storey 21-room dormitory with shelter in the basement, an observation room on the roof and ablution facilities on each floor ($79,425), a single-storey 23-room dormitory with shelter/operations room in the basement and ablution facility ($66,485), a single-storey 12-room dormitory with ablution facility ($29,834), a double-storey 25-room dormitory with shelter in the basement and ablution facilities on each floor ($82,373) and asphalting of the new headquarters and the road leading to the new headquarters ($47,690), for a total of $305,807. There was also an operational decision to relocate Fiji battalion position 1-16A, which involved the following construction works: a dormitory, including kitchen/dining facility ($21,848), an ablution unit ($3,802), a shelter ($9,473) and electrical cables and fittings for new buildings ($11,004), for a total of $46,127. During the incident, it became obvious that under shelling United Nations troops were unable to conduct continuous observation because of the inadequate protection afforded by current observation posts. A concrete shelter/operations room was therefore constructed at Nepal battalion position 5-11AB ($19,856). Of the recorded expenditures of $990,800, an amount of $365,663 was incurred in connection with the incident at Qana, while the balance of $625,137 was incurred for budgeted construction projects and prefabricated units.

4. Infrastructure repairs……………………………………………………………….–

23. No provision was made under this heading.

5. Transport operations………………………………………………………(454 000)

24. Purchase of vehicles. Of the apportioned amount of $2,116,000, expenditures totalled $708,800, resulting in unutilized resources of $1,407,200. This was due to the transfer of 56 vehicles from other missions, as shown in table 5. However, the unutilized balance was offset in part by an amount of $145,400 provided for the financing of the United Nations Logistics Base at Brindisi and by recorded expenditures of $847,000 relating to the prior period ending 30 June 1996, resulting in a net unutilized balance of $414,800.

Table 5

Vehicles received from other missions

Model	Quantity

Bulldozer	1
Loader, BackHoe	1
Loader, front-end	2
TFM RG-31 Nyala APC	4
Toyota Crown saloon	1
Toyota Hi-Ace, minibus	1
Toyota Hi-Lux, ambulance 4×4	2
Toyota station wagon, HZJ80	13
Truck	1
Truck, cargo	23
Truck, recovery	1
Truck, water, 4×4	4
Vibrator roller	2
Total	56

25. Workshop equipment. The unutilized balance of $46,700 resulted from actual costs being lower than estimated.

26. Spare parts, repairs and maintenance. The additional requirement of $206,500 was due to a number of obligations pertaining to the mandate period ending 30 June 1996, which were recorded in the fiscal year 1996/97.

27. Petrol oil and lubricants. Additional requirements of $329,469 were due to the drastic increase in the price of fuel during the financial period. The breakdown of the budget and actual costs is shown in table 6.

Table 6

Estimated fuel requirements

Commodity	Cost estimate	Actual expenditure	Variances

Petrol, Benzine 96	175 230	143 695	31 535
Diesel, general	999,900	1 185 183	(185 283)
Diesel, vehicles	440 300	620 155	(179 855)
Lubricants	220,000	192 561	27 439
Kerosene	118 800	156 536	(37 736)
Fuel (Lebanon)	30 770	16 339	14 431
Total	1 985 000	2 314 469	(329 469)

In addition, disbursements in the amount of $35,338 relating to the prior financial period ending 30 June 1996 were recorded under the 1996/97 financial period.

28. Vehicle insurance. The additional requirement of $344,200 was due in part to an unexpected increase in worldwide third-party liability coverage for vehicles. A provision of $229,000 was made for insurance, but the actual cost was $403,700, resulting in additional requirements of $174,700. In addition, expenditures in the amount of $169,500 from the prior financial period ending 30 June 1996 were recorded in the 1996/97 financial period, resulting in total additional requirements of $344,200.

6. Air operations

Helicopter operations…………………………………………………………………(166 200)

29. Hire/charter costs. The additional requirement of $171,400 was mainly due to the transfer of funds to the reserve account for third-party liability insurance of helicopters.

30. Aviation fuel and lubricants. Actual cost was slightly lower than estimated, resulting in an unutilized balance of $1,900.

31. Liability and war-risk insurance. Provision was made for liability and war-risk insurance for four helicopters at a rate of $2,000 per helicopter per annum. The actual premium for the period from 1 May 1996 to 29 January 1997 amounted to $9,200. Expenditures recorded during the reporting period amounted to $4,700, resulting in an unutilized balance of $3,300.

7. Naval operations…………………………………………………………………..–

32. No provision was made under this heading.

8. Communications

(a) Complementary communications…………………………………….(297 800)

33. Communications equipment. Of the apportioned amount of $410,000, actual expenditures incurred totalled $713,400, resulting in additional requirements of $303,400. The move of the Fiji battalion headquarters to a new location necessitated the duplication of the equipment currently located at position 1-20. Position 1-20 provides communication links from Alyatun to the Fiji battalion and then by repeater to the Force Mobile Reserve. Rural links are also used to Fiji battalion positions 1-6 and 1-23. These links cannot be dismantled while new links are being installed, hence the need for duplicates. The following items in the total amount of $277,655, for which budgetary provision had not been made, were purchased for the above purpose: a Coral II telephone exchange ($22,770), one digital phone link ($10,231), five GM-300 radios ($1,840), one Canon fax, B340 ($1,044), one multiplex interface ($7,750), 159 intercom systems ($18,168), 53 power and RF amplifiers ($41,138), 204 cable assemblies ($9,064) and 182 crewman helmets ($53,326), fax switch ($77,984), 20 portable radios ($7,600), 40 mobile radios ($15,900) and five repeaters ($10,840). In addition, intercom systems were also purchased for armoured personnel carriers ($2,745) and expenditure in the amount of $23,000 pertaining to the period ending 30 June 1996 was recorded during the period under review. Of the total expenditures of $713,400 reported, the amount of $43,635 relates directly to the relocation of the Fiji battalion headquarters.

34. Spare parts and supplies. The apportioned amount was $335,000. Total expenditures amounted to $350,100, of which $309,437 was incurred for the purchase of communications spare parts and repairs, resulting in an unutilized amount of $25,563. This was offset by expenditures of $40,663 associated with the relocation of the Fiji battalion headquarters, resulting in additional requirements of $15,100.

35. Workshop and test equipment. Actual costs were higher than estimated, resulting in additional requirements of $800.

36. Commercial communications. Lower usage of telex services as a result of improvements in other commercial services, such as faxes and electronic mail, resulted in unutilized resources of $21,500.

(b) Main trunking contract……………………………………………………………….–

37. No provision was made under this heading.

9. Other equipment…………………………………………………………….(296 400)

38. Office furniture. The unutilized balance of $19,000 was attributable to the transfer of office furniture from the United Nations Logistic Base at Brindisi.

39. Office equipment. The unanticipated replacement of the following worn-out office equipment resulted in additional requirements of $2,700: two facsimile machines ($970) and two time-stamp machines ($1,730).

40. Data-processing equipment. Additional requirements of $240,200 resulted from the need to replace worn-out equipment, to finalize linking the extremities of Naqoura Camp to the UNIFIL local area network, to upgrade personal computers and to purchase additional personal computers to implement a new Department of Peacekeeping Operations-wide field asset control system utilizing Lotus Notes. Additional expenditures were as follows: 34 serial mouse for personal computers ($414), one flatbed colour scanner ($1,140), one cable scanner tool ($4,950), 40 SMART UPS ($12,400), Network hardware – 24 transceivers ($2,880), two Cabletron SPIM-A repeaters ($255), four Cabletron MPIM-C repeaters ($3,371), two Cabletron MINIMAC repeaters ($1,705), 80 memory SIMMS for Pentium 60 MHZ personal computers ($1,600), 53 personal computers with 14-inch monitors for Windows ($79,468), 48 personal computers with 15-inch monitors for FACS ($75,216), two file servers for Lotus Notes ($52,900) and Data Link 3.0/3.5 ($3,882).

41. Observation equipment. Additional requirements of $66,600 were due to the replacement of 39 Lunos 4×4 binoculars ($48,400) and 25 searchlights ($18,200) for which budgetary provision had not been made.

42. Medical and dental equipment. Actual costs were lower than estimated, resulting in an unutilized balance of $2,200.

43. Accommodation equipment. The unutilized balance of $15,700 was due to the transfer of accommodation equipment from UNPF to UNIFIL.

44. Miscellaneous equipment. Additional requirements of $3,900 were due to the need to purchase specialized hand tools for the Warm and Cold Workshop in Naqoura in order to carry out efficient repairs to different types of kitchen, heating and cooling equipment ($3,575) and engineering tools ($325).

45. Spare parts, repairs and maintenance. Additional requirements of $19,900 resulted from the purchase of four flow meters for fuel trucks in order to have better control of fuel distribution ($3,200) and the recording of expenditures relating to the prior financial period ending 30 June 1996 ($16,700).

10. Supplies and services

(a) Miscellaneous services……………………………………………………………5 700

46. Audit services. The provision has been fully obligated in order to cover the cost of the external audit conducted during the reporting period.

47. Contractual services. Actual costs for contractual services were lower than estimated, resulting in unutilized resources for garbage collection ($25,600) and for emptying of cesspit tanks ($62,000). The bidding process provided for more bidders, which resulted in lower prices for those services.

48. Security services. The additional requirement of $2,476 resulted from the fact that the cost of security services at Rosh Hanigra, Beirut, increased in June 1996 from $770 to $885.50 per month. This additional requirement was offset in part by an unutilized balance of $543 for the security service at Rosh Hanigra.

49. Medical treatment and services. Additional requirements of $50,800 resulted from medical examinations and hospitalization provided away from the UNIFIL hospital. Treatments provided by other hospitals are as follows: gunshot wound ($4,890), continuation of treatment from the incident at Qana for three Fijian soldiers ($3,410) and two soldiers with kidney dysfunction requiring dialysis ($42,500).

50. Miscellaneous other services. Additional requirements of $29,200 were due to claims for guard dog services relating to previous financial periods that were presented for payment during the period under review.

(b) Miscellaneous supplies………………………………………………………..506 700

51. Stationery and office supplies. Actual costs were lower than estimated, resulting in an unutilized balance of $1,500.

52. Medical supplies. The unutilized balance of $75,500 was due to the transfer of supplies from other missions and donations from the Government of Germany and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF). Medical supplies received during the period under review were as follows: 112 medical items valued at $48,800 from the Government of Germany, medicines and surgical materials from UNICEF ($13,500) and 14 medical items valued at $13,200 from UNPF.

53. Sanitation and cleaning materials. The standard ratio for sanitation and cleaning materials had been set at $5 per person per month for all personnel. For UNIFIL, this equates to $299,520. However, the estimates were based on expenditure patterns during previous periods. Additional expenditures of $38,600 were incurred owing to the fact that additional sanitation and cleaning materials were required to maintain a minimum level of hygiene and cleanliness in order to prevent epidemiological hazards that could become a health problem for the troops.

54. Uniform items, flags and decals. The unutilized balance of $254,400 was due to non-purchase of winter clothing ($132,800), the transfer of flak jackets from the United Nations Logistics Base at Brindisi ($60,800), items transferred from UNPF ($10,000) and sufficient stock from the previous mandate ($50,800).

55. Field defence stores. An unutilized balance of $159,200 was realized owing to the transfer of items from UNPF ($127,800) and actual cost being lower than estimated ($31,400).

56. Quartermaster and general stores. An unutilized balance of $54,600 was realized owing to the transfer of items from other missions and the United Nations Logistics Base at Brindisi.

11. Election-related supplies and services……………………………..-

57. No provision was made under this heading.

12. Public information programmes……………………………………….-

58. No provision was made under this heading.

13. Training programmes……………………………………………………..–

59. No provision was made under this heading.

14. Mine-clearing programmes……………………………………………..–

60. No provision was made under this heading.

15. Assistance for disarmament and demobilization…………………–

61. No provision was made under this heading.

16. Air and surface freight……………………………………………..77 200

62. Commercial freight and cartage. The unutilized balance of $77,200 resulted from the actual costs being lower than estimated. The global requisitioning of freight charges for the transfer of items from other missions, including the United Nations Logistics Base at Brindisi, also reduced the cost for freight during the period under review.

17. United Nations Logistics Base, Brindisi………………….(436 300)

63. The expenditure of $436,300 represents the prorated share of UNIFIL of the cost of maintaining the United Nations Logistics Base at Brindisi for the period from 1 July 1996 to 30 June 1997, based on paragraph 3 of General Assembly resolution 52/1 of 15 October 1997.

18. Support account for peacekeeping operations……………………–

64. The expenditure of $2,965,800 represents the prorated share of UNIFIL of the cost of backstopping requirements at Headquarters funded from the support account for peacekeeping operations, based on General Assembly resolution 50/221 B of 7 June 1996.

19. Staff assessment……………………………………………………(183 000)

65. The additional requirement of $183,000 resulted from the increase in local salaries, as mentioned in paragraph 13 above.

20. Income from staff assessment………………………………………..(183 000)

66. This amount is derived from item 19 above.

Annex III

Authorized staffing and actual deployment of military and civilian personnel

for the period from 1 July 1996 to 30 June 1997

Personnel category

Authorized staffing

Actual staff on board

31 July

31 Aug.

30 Sept.

31 Oct.

30 Nov.

31 Dec. 1996

31 Jan.

28 Feb.

31 March

30 April

31 May

30 June 1997

Average

Military personnel

Military contingents

Vacancy rate (percentage)

4 513

4 489

4 502

–

4 512

–

4 503

–

4 526

–

4 505

–

4 497

–

4 499

–

4 475

4 564

(1)

4 547

(1)

4 488

4 509

Civilian personnel

Professional category

& above

ASG

D-1

P-5

P-4

P-3

P-2/1

–

Subtotal

Vacancy rate

(percentage)

General Service

and related

categories

General Ser.

Field Service

Security Ser.

–

Subtotal

Vacancy rate

(percentage)

125

112

106

108

106

107

108

114

107

103

108

International staff

Vacancy rate

(percentage)

143

125

119

1123

121

123

124

123

129

130

121

117

123

Local staff

Vacancy rate

(percentage)

193

178

177

178

172

171

172

171

172

171

173

General temporary assistance

151

129

133

134

135

133

Vacancy rate

(percentage)

Civilian staff

Vacancy rate

(percentage)

487

432

425

430

426

425

428

429

435

437

428

423

429

UNIFIL – SecGen report

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