UNIFIL – Financing – SecGen report

United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon

Report of the Secretary-General

Summary

The present report contains the revised budget for the 12-month period from 1 July 2000 to 30 June 2001 for the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, which amounts to $225,715,700 gross ($221,506,300 net), inclusive of budgeted voluntary contributions in kind amounting to $180,000. It incorporates additional requirements for the expansion of the Force as proposed in paragraphs 31 to 34 of my report to the Security Council of 22 May 2000 (S/2000/460), which was endorsed by the Security Council in its presidential statement of 23 May 2000 (S/PRST/2000/18).

Of the total budget, operational requirements account for 62 per cent, military personnel costs reflect 23 per cent, approximately 13 per cent of resources relate to civilian personnel costs, and staff assessment comprises 2 per cent of the total.

The action to be taken by the General Assembly is set out in paragraph 8 of the present report.

Contents

I. Overview

1. The present report contains the revised budget for the 12-month period from 1 July 2000 to 30 June 2001 for the operation of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), which amounts to $225,715,700 gross ($221,506,300 net), inclusive of budgeted voluntary contributions in kind amounting to $180,000. The revised budget incorporates additional requirements for the provisional expansion of the Force.

2. In this connection, it is recalled that on 17 April 2000 the Secretary-General received formal notification from the Government of Israel that it would withdraw its forces from Lebanon by July 2000 in full accordance with Security Council resolution 425 (1978) and 426 (1978). The Secretary-General was further informed that in so doing the Government of Israel intended to cooperate fully with the United Nations (see S/2000/322).

3. Subsequently, in his report of 22 May 2000, the Secretary-General submitted conclusions and recommendations regarding the plans and requirements for the implementation of those two resolutions (S/2000/460). On 23 May 2000, the President of the Security Council made a statement on behalf of the Council (S/PRST/2000/18). In his statement, the President of the Security Council stated, inter alia, that the Security Council:

(a) Welcomed and strongly endorsed the report of the Secretary-General;

(b) Welcomed the intention of the Secretary-General to take all necessary measures to enable UNIFIL to confirm a complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from Lebanon has taken place in compliance with resolution 425 (1978) and to take all necessary steps in order to deal with possible eventualities, bearing in mind that the cooperation of all parties will be essential;

(c) Endorsed the requirements put forward by the Secretary-General.

4. The original budget of UNIFIL, as contained in document A/54/724, amounted to $139,547,600 gross ($135,721,900 net), inclusive of budgeted voluntary contributions in kind, and was based on 4,513 average troop strength supported by 141 international and 350 local staff.

5. Based on the initial budget proposal for the maintenance of the Force for the period from 1 July 2000 to 30 June 2001, inclusive of the amounts for the support account for peacekeeping operations and for the United Nations Logistics Base at Brindisi, Italy, the General Assembly, by its resolution 54/267 of 15 June 2000, appropriated an amount of $146,833,694 gross ($141,889,841 net).

6. This appropriation did not take into account the additional requirements needed by the Force for the expansion and rise in troop strength from its present level of 4,513 to approximately 5,600, and later to approximately 7,935, which the Secretary-General had described in his report (S/2000/460, paras. 31-35). On 26 May 2000, in response to his request, the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions authorized the Secretary-General: (a) to enter into additional commitments not exceeding $12 million to meet the immediate additional requirements during the remaining weeks of the 12-month period ending 30 June 2000, the actual additional requirements for which will be reported and requested in the context of the subsequent financial performance report of the Secretary-General for the period to be submitted to the fifty-fifth resumed session, and (b) pending submission of the revised budgetary requirements for the period from 1 July 2000 to 30 June 2001, to finance up to six months additional requirements from the initial level of resources approved by the General Assembly for the 12-month period.

7. Exclusive of the amounts for the support account for peacekeeping operations and for the United Nations Logistics Base at Brindisi for the same period, the revised budget of UNIFIL for the period from 1 July 2000 to 30 June 2001, which amounts to $225,535,700 gross, inclusive of budgeted voluntary contributions in kind amounting to $180,000, is $86,758,400 higher (gross) than the initial approved budget of $138,957. Table 1 below provides comparisons, by category of expenditure among actual expenditures during the years 1999 and 2000, the General Assembly apportionment for the period 2000-2001 and the proposed revised budget.

Table 1

Financial resources

(Thousands of United States dollars)

a/ Information on the distribution of resources by standard and mission-specific costs is contained in annex II.B. to the present report.

Table 2

Human resources

a/   Represents highest level of authorized strength.

8. The action to be taken by the General Assembly is as follows:

(a) To appropriate the additional amount of $86,758,400 gross ($86,301,300 net) for the expansion of the mission for the 12-month period from 1 July 2000 to 30 June 2001, taking into consideration the amount of $146,833,694 gross ($141,889,841 net) already appropriated by the General Assembly in its resolution 54/267 of 15 June 2000;

(b) To assess the additional amount of $86,758,400 gross ($86,301,300 net), at a monthly rate of $7,229,866 gross ($7,191,775 net), taking into account the amounts already assessed on Member States for the period, should the Security Council decide to continue the mandate of the mission beyond

31 January 2001.

II. Political mandate of the mission

(Security Council resolution 425 (1978))

9. The mandate of UNIFIL is to confirm the withdrawal of Israeli forces, to restore international peace and security and to assist the Government of Lebanon in ensuring the return of its effective authority in the area of operations. Its task remains as laid down in the report of the Secretary-General of 19 March 1978 (S/12611), namely, to ensure the peaceful character of its area of operations or, more precisely, of that part of the area which is not under Israeli occupation. In doing so, UNIFIL also affords a measure of protection to the civilian population.

10. The current mandate expires on 31 January 2001 (Security Council resolution 1310 (2000) of 27 July 2000).

III. Operational plan and requirements

11. With the withdrawal of Israeli Defence Forces in May 2000, the operational role of UNIFIL changed significantly. These operational changes and their related potential additional resource requirements were outlined in the report of the Secretary-General (S/2000/460, paras. 31-35). This included an increase in troop strength to approximately 7,900 from the previous authorized strength of 4,513. As of 30 September 2000, UNIFIL’s troop strength was 5,732. During June and July 2000, UNIFIL assisted the cartographic team from United Nations Headquarters in establishing a United Nations verification line (blue line), which was subsequently accepted by both Lebanon and Israel. From 30 July 2000, the Force will seek to achieve the following operational objectives:

(a) Deploy and dominate in the area of southern Lebanon;

(b) Assist in the restoration of peace and stability;

(c) Assist the Government of Lebanon to establish its authority;

(d) Reduce or prevent the recurrence of hostility;

(e) Protect and render humanitarian aid to the local population.

12. The operational plans foresee deployment of troops at 28 new platoon/company positions in southern Lebanon, of which 19 have been emplaced and the remaining 9 will be emplaced in due course. Nine of these 28 new positions are in close proximity with the Blue Line. It is also planned to maintain 50 of the 144 old positions, expand 25 of those 50 to facilitate additional deployment, and to close the remaining 94 positions. Through such realignments, by mobile patrolling and observation from a number of additional observation posts and sand bag positions, UNIFIL aims to achieve effective domination of the area of operation.

13. In support of the operational objectives and the military component, UNIFIL is proposing an increase in the civilian establishment by 81 posts (34 international posts and 47 local posts) to undertake additional administrative and logistic responsibilities in the mission. Additional resources for premises and accommodations and, in particular, prefabricated buildings are required as they are critical to the realignment of troop positions referred to in paragraph 12 above. Additional transport, air support, communications equipment, observation equipment, defence stores and other critical operational requirements in terms of safety and security of the troops and necessary for the performance of operational tasks have also been proposed, bearing in mind the need for mobility in the nature of operations.

14. Throughout the 22-year occupation of southern Lebanon by the Israeli Defence Forces, a significant number of landmines were laid in the area by both the Israeli Defence Forces, the South Lebanon Army, and other armed elements operating in the area. The majority of these mined areas remain unmarked, together with vast quantities of unexploded ordnance littering the area. De-mining has become one of the top priorities as many displaced persons are likely to return to the area in the coming months.

15. In addition to de-mining activities being carried out by logistics support troops from three countries, a regional Mine Action Coordination Cell will be established within UNIFIL, which will need to be staffed by four new Professional posts. In coordination with the national authorities and other United Nations entities, the Coordination Cell will assist in the development of a medium- to long-term policy in respect of the mine situation in south Lebanon, including mine awareness education, data collection and dissemination and information management, development and promotion of appropriate technical and safety standards, and quality assurance.

IV. Contributions made under the status-of-forces agreement

16. A status-of-forces agreement was signed between the United Nations and the Government of Lebanon on 15 December 1995. In accordance with the agreement, the Government extends privileges, including importation, free of duty or other restrictions, of equipment, provisions, supplies and other goods that are for the exclusive and official use of UNIFIL; provision without cost to UNIFIL of 79 buildings and areas for headquarters and camps and exemption from any taxes or duties in respect of all official local purchases.

V. Voluntary contributions and trust funds

A.   Voluntary contributions

(United States dollars)

a/   This service has been provided on a continuing basis since inception. The service has been used on one occasion during the period from 1 January to 30 June 2000, the value of which is not quantified.

b/   The Government of Lebanon began making this voluntary contribution from February 1998.

B.    Trust funds

No trust fund has been established in support of UNIFIL.

VI. Status of reimbursement of troop-contributing Governments

17. The current troop-contributors are the Governments of Fiji, Finland, France, Ghana, India, Ireland, Italy, Nepal, Poland, Sweden and Ukraine.

18. Full reimbursement in accordance with standard rates established by the General Assembly for troop costs has been made to the troop-contributing States through 31 March 2000. It is estimated that an amount of US$ 26.5 million is due for troop costs for the period ending 31 August 2000.

VII. Contingent-owned equipment and self-sustainment

A.    Method of reimbursement

19. Memoranda of understanding have been signed with two of UNIFIL’s troop-contributing Governments (India and Fiji). Negotiations with the other countries that are providing or will provide troops and equipment to UNIFIL are continuing. At this stage, it is expected that 10 troop-contributing Governments of UNIFIL will opt for the wet-lease arrangements for reimbursement of contingent-owned equipment.

B.    Requirements

20. Additional requirements for the period under review for reimbursement to troop-contributing countries have been based on standard reimbursement rates for contingent-owned equipment (wet-lease) and self-sustainment for 5 infantry battalions and 3 specialized support units.

1.    Major equipment

21. New requirements for the period under review for reimbursement of major equipment to 8 troop-contributing countries are estimated at $10,833,098.

2.    Special equipment

22. Additional requirements for special equipment (demining equipment) are estimated for 3 troop-contributing countries at $645,276.

3.     Self-sustainment

23. The estimated additional requirements of $2,783,058 for self-sustainment are shown below:

4.     Mission factors

24. Mission factors (unchanged) intended to compensate troop-contributing countries for extreme operating conditions in the mission area apply to the monthly reimbursable rates as indicated in the table below:

VIII. Staffing requirements

A.    Changes in staffing requirements

a/   As contained in document A/54/724.

25. In order to support the expansion of UNIFIL, it is proposed to increase the civilian staffing establishment of UNIFIL by 81 posts, comprising 34 additional international staff (10 Professional, 28 Field Service) and 47 local staff. The proposed distribution of civilian staff by category and office is proposed in section B below, with the actual and projected deployment schedule shown in section C below.

26. These 81 additional posts are required, as summarized below:

(a) Office of the Force Commander. Establishment of one new Professional post at the P-4 level for a Civilian Affairs Liaison Officer and upgrading of the post for a Legal Adviser from P-4 to P-5, as well as two new local posts (one researcher and one clerk/language assistant);

(b) Chief Administrative Officer. Redeployment of two P-3 Professional posts, a Welfare Officer and a Logistics Officer to the Personnel Section and Integrated Support Services, respectively;

(c) Personnel Section. One P-3 Professional post (Welfare Officer) transferred from Chief Administrative Office and establishment of two local posts (one records clerk and one personnel clerk);

(d) Communications Section. Establishment of four new field service posts and four new local posts for radio technicians;

(e) Transport Section. Establishment of five new field service and five new local posts for vehicle mechanics;

(f) Electronic-Data Processing Unit. Establishment of one new field service post (Lotus Notes administrator) as well as three local posts (two local area network technicians and one personal computer technician);

(g) Finance Section. Establishment of two new Professional posts (one Deputy Chief Finance Officer at the P-3 level and one Supervisor of budget unit at the P-2 level); abolition of five General Service posts and establishment of an equivalent number of field service posts (two budget assistants and three finance assistants); establishment of two new local posts (finance clerks);

(h) General Services Section. Establishment of three field service posts (one accommodations assistant, one claims assistant, and one inventory assistant), and five local posts (two administrative clerks, one claims assistant, and two inventory clerks);

(i) Military Support Unit. Establishment of 10 local posts for interpreter/ assistant positions;

(j) Beirut — Procurement Section. Establishment of two new local posts (one handyman/cleaner and one driver);

(k) Integrated Support Services. Establishment of 14 new international posts including three Professional posts (Chief of Logistics, Operations and Plans Office, as well as chief of supply, contracts and MOU management at the P-4 level, and Resource and Assets Control Officer at the P-3 level), 10 field service posts (four administrative assistants, two clerks for Food Cell Unit, two supply assistants, and two clerks for Fuel Cell Unit) and, one General Service post (budget and requisition control assistant); one P-3 Professional post (Logistics Officer) transferred from Chief Administrative Office as Contingent-Owned Equipment/MOU Cell Officer; as well as establishment of 12 new local posts (one secretary and 11 administrative clerks);

(l) Mine Action Coordination Cell. Establishment of four new Professional posts, including one P-5 (Project Manager), two P-4 (Operations Officer, and Mine Information Officer), and one P-3 (Administration and Logistics Officer).

27. In paragraph 13 of its resolution 54/267, the General Assembly requested the Secretary-General, in order to reduce the cost of employing General Service staff, to continue efforts to employ locally recruited staff for the Force against General Service posts, commensurate with the requirements of the Force. While for operational reasons no conversions of staff to local posts from the approved General Service staffing establishment are possible at the present stage, more local staff positions are requested in the present revised budget in order to limit the additional number of General Service posts to be established.

B.    Current and proposed staffing

C.   Deployment of civilian personnel

28. The deployment schedule of civilian personnel is set out below:

IX. Qana incident

29. In paragraph 14 of resolution 54/267, the General Assembly reiterated its request to the Secretary-General to take the necessary measures to ensure the full implementation of paragraph 8 of General Assembly resolution 51/233, paragraph 5 of resolution 52/237, and paragraph 11 of resolution 53/227, stressed once again that Israel should pay the amount of $1,284,633 resulting from the incident at Qana on 18 April 1996, and requested the Secretary-General to report on that matter to the Assembly at its fifty-fifth session.

30. Pursuant to the adoption of those resolutions, that amount has been recorded under accounts receivable for UNIFIL and the Secretariat has addressed four letters to the Permanent Representative of Israel on the subject, the most recent of which was dated 9 October 2000, to which no response has been received.

C.    Supplementary information

The revised budget of UNIFIL for the 12-month period from 1 July 2000 to 30 June 2001 provides for the phased deployment of the additional 3,387 military personnel up to a total of 7,900 personnel, supported by an increase in the staffing establishment to 175 international (33 Professional, 105 Field Service and 37 General Service posts) and 397 local staff. The proposed budget also reflects additional requirements for the reimbursement to troop-contributing Governments for the contingent-owned equipment on wet-lease arrangement and self-sustainment provided to UNIFIL, as well as for enhanced air operations support, acquisition of prefabricated buildings, transportation, communications, electronic data-processing and other equipment.

Military personnel

General Assembly apportionment: $79,987,600; revised estimates: $139,640,100; variance: $59,652,500

Military contingents

General Assembly apportionment: $77,752,200; revised estimates: $121,564,000; variance: $43,811,800

1. The increase of $43,811,800 under military contingents is based on the phased deployment of the additional 3,387 contingent personnel for infantry battalions as well as specialized support units. The revised estimates cover additional requirements for standard troop-cost reimbursement ($31,982,900), welfare ($462,500), rations ($5,210,500), daily allowance ($1,206,000), travel and subsistence allowance for military personnel ($22,700), emplacement and rotation travel ($2,753,400) and clothing and equipment allowance ($2,173,800). The deployment schedule of military contingents is as follows:

Other requirements pertaining to military personnel

General Assembly apportionment: $2,235,400; revised estimates: $18,076,100; variance: $15,840,700

2. The revised estimate includes additional provision of $12,307,600 for the reimbursement to troop-contributing countries for the equipment brought into the mission area, based on wet-lease arrangements and $2,783,100 for self-sustainment. Additional provision of $750,000 has been made to cover potential claims for the death, disability or injury of military personnel (compared with approximately $1 million if the standard provision of 1 per cent of all contingent personnel, based on annual maximum cost of $40,000 per claim, had been applied).

Civilian personnel

General Assembly apportionment: $25,092,800; revised estimates: $29,234,700; variance: $4,141,900

International and local staff

General Assembly apportionment: $25,092,800; revised estimates: $29,234,700; variance: $4,141,900

3. For existing international posts, as recommended by the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions, a vacancy factor of 8 per cent has been applied. For existing local level posts, no vacancy factor has been applied, based on past incumbency experience.

4. The estimates for the new international and local posts requested have been prepared based on their projected phased deployment.

5. The provision for other official travel contained in the previous report of the Secretary-General (A/54/724, annex I.C, para. 8) has been revised to include additional requirements of $50,000 to cover travel costs for eight United Nations Headquarters staff at $6,250 per trip, including daily subsistence allowance during the period.

Operational requirements

General Assembly apportionment: $29,821,600; revised estimates: $52,328,500; variance: $22,506,900

6. Increased provision of $22,506,900 under the heading of operational requirements is attributable to the expansion of UNIFIL and includes an additional amount of $13,082,100 for non-recurrent requirements such as the acquisition of vehicles, communications, electronic data-processing and other equipment.

Premises/accommodation

7. Twenty-eight new positions will be created, 25 existing positions expanded and 94 positions closed in order for the Force to deploy southwards along the border between Lebanon and Israel. It should be noted that closing of existing positions will require not only engineering efforts, but also materials to restore privately owned houses that have been occupied and adapted by UNIFIL over the years.

8. The revised provision of $5,734,900 includes maintenance supplies ($353,000) and services ($270,000); electricity and water utilities ($83,500); and acquisition of 540 prefabricated accommodations, 70 ablution units, 5 Rubb Halls ($5,028,400).

Transport operations

9. As a result of the increase in the number of existing battalions, the military support units and the civilian components, an additional 74 civilian pattern and 21 military pattern vehicles will be required. A detailed breakdown of the additional 95 vehicles is shown in annex II.C.

10. Revised provisions have been also made for the rental of trucks with trailers, cranes, water trucks and sewage trucks to meet surge requirements ($93,200); acquisition of workshop equipment ($50,000); spare parts, repairs and maintenance ($198,100); petrol, oil and lubricants ($1,518,400); and third-party liability insurance for the additional vehicles as well as leased vehicles ($182,200).

Air operations

11. The original UNIFIL budget provided for four AB-205 helicopters. Two additional helicopters are required for rapid troop deployment capability. It is estimated that a total 330 hours at $1,583 per flight hour for hire/charter costs as well as $154,600 for aviation fuel and lubricant cost are required.

12. It is proposed that aviation fuel and lubricants in an amount of $154,600 be provided for re-fuelling six fixed-wing transport aircraft each flying six hours return trip Brindisi-Beirut-Brindisi, deployed out of the United Nations Logistics Base at Brindisi, Italy, to transport equipment on an as required basis. The estimate also includes first time landing fees charged by Beirut International Airport for such fixed-wing operations.

13. It should be noted that the estimate takes into consideration the most recent rates encountered for petrol, oil and lubricants over the past year.

14. Information regarding flying hours, hire charges, fuel costs and insurance is provided in annex II.A.

Communications

15. The current communications facilities in UNIFIL are inadequate to meet the changed operational requirements. In order to expand, upgrade and improve the current communications system, it is anticipated that additional VHF/UHF, satellite, radio, telephone and other communications equipment ($1,766,100) will be required for the deployment of additional military personnel for the new positions and for the three new logistics support units (as detailed in annex II.C to the present report). The resources provided under this heading also cover the requirements for communication workshop and test equipment ($178,700), spare parts and supplies ($345,300), and commercial communications ($340,000).

Other equipment

16. The overall estimate under this heading shows an increase of $3,045,900 from the original budget and, provides for various items of office furniture, office equipment, electronic data-processing equipment, observation equipment, medical and dental equipment, accommodation equipment, and miscellaneous equipment required for the deployment of additional military and civilian personnel. Detailed information on the requirements is shown in annex II.C.

Supplies and services

17. An increased provision of $4,084,500 has been made to cover miscellaneous supplies ($2,773,300) and services ($1,311,200). It includes contractual services to be provided for garbage collection, pest control, cesspit cleaning and laundry services for additional troops that are not self-sustained, as well as for the cost of the hiring of additional masons, carpenters, electricians, general mechanics, plumbers and refrigeration technicians. It also includes provision for security services, medical treatment and services, and miscellaneous other services. Moreover, it also includes acquisition of (a) stationery and office supplies, (b) medical supplies, (c) sanitation and cleaning materials, (d) subscriptions, (e) uniforms items, flags and decals, (f) field defence stores, (g) updated operational maps, and (h) quartermaster and general stores.

Air and surface freight

General Assembly apportionment: $383,300; revised estimates: $1,388,300; variance: $1,005,000

18. The additional amount of $1,005,000 under this heading includes the freight cost of contingent-owned equipment for the new units joining UNIFIL as well as the cost of shipping and handling of supplies and equipment for which no provision has been made elsewhere. It is anticipated that approximately 300 containers will be handled through the port of Beirut in the coming months.

Other programmes

General Assembly apportionment: $123,000; revised estimates: $123,000; variance: –

Training programmes

19. The training programme of UNIFIL, as outlined in the previous report of the Secretary-General (A/54/724, annex I.C, para. 20), remains unchanged.

Staff assessment

General Assembly apportionment: $3,752,300; revised estimates: $4,209,400; variance: $457,100

20. The amount budgeted under this heading represents the difference between gross and net emoluments, that is, the amount of staff assessment to which the United Nations staff members are subject, in accordance with the Staff Regulations of the United Nations. The staff assessment for 175 internationally recruited staff, including the proposed establishment of 34 additional international posts, is estimated on the basis of the 2000/2001 standard cost rates for New York, while the staff assessment for 397 local staff, including the proposed establishment of 47 additional local posts, is estimated by using the scale currently applicable in the mission area in accordance with the phased deployment of international and local staff as indicated in annex VI.C of the present report.

Income from staff assessment

General Assembly apportionment: ($3,752,300); revised estimates: ($4,209,400); variance: ($457,100)

21. The staff assessment requirements provided for under expenditure budget line VII have been credited to this item as income from staff assessment and will be credited to the Tax Equalization Fund established by the General Assembly in its resolution 973 A (X) of 15 December 1955. Member States are given credit in the fund in proportion to their rates of contribution to the UNIFIL budget.

Annex III

Implementation of previous recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions

Annex IV

Organization chart