Situation in Lebanon – SecGen report/Addendum

REPORT OF THE SECRETARY-GENERAL IN PURSUANCE OF

SECURITY COUNCIL RESOLUTION 521 (1982)

Addendum

1. The present report contains an account of developments in the Beirut area from 1000 hrs GMT 27 September (time of the last report of the Secretary-General) to 1000 hrs GMT 30 September 1982.

2. The Observer Group Beirut (OGB), in close liaison with the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF), has formed six mobile liaison teams and has established four static observation posts which are located at the Beirut airport, the harbour area, the business sector of Hamra Street and the former headquarters of the Israel-Lebanon Mixed Armistice Commission (ILMAC) in the Bir Hassan area.  In addition, the United Nations Observers have carried out varied humanitarian tasks in co-operation with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the Lebanese Red Cross and local hospitals and, needless to say, with the United Nations Agencies and Programmes concerned.  The Chief of Staff of UNTSO, Lieutenant-General Erskine, visited Beirut from 24 to 26 September and had discussions with the Lebanese authorities regarding the functioning of OGB.

3. Since the Secretary-General's last report, the situation in the Beirut area has remained generally calm.

4. During the period under review, the build-up of the Multinational Force continued.  On 29 September, at the request of the Government of France, 485 members of the French contingent of the United Nation Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) were temporarily returned to the French national service and were incorporated into the French contingent of the Multinational Force.  The American contingent of 1,200 all ranks arrived in Beirut on 29 and 30 September, bringing the strength of the Force to 3,997.  The French contingent is deployed in the north-western part of Beirut with its headquarters located at Barbir Hospital.  The Italian contingent is in the area immediately south of the French sector with its headquarters at a location about 300 meters south of the airport roundabout.  The American contingent is stationed in the Beirut International Airport area, immediately south of the Italian sector with its headquarters at the airport.

5. The Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) are maintaining static positions, establishing check points and conducting patrols throughout Beirut, north of the Khalde road junction.  Major LAF concentrations are deployed in the port, along the Avenue de l'Independence, around Place de l'Etoile and the Municipal Stadium.  LAF are manning the road from Galerie Seeman to St. Michael Beach.  The strength of LAF operating in Beirut as of 30 September was about 3,500 all ranks.

6. During the reporting period IDF continued its withdrawal from Beirut.  As of 30 September, no IDF presence was observed by OGB north and west of the line of separation.  Throughout the rest of Beirut and the airport OGB observed only two IDF check points near Khalde.

7. The Beirut International Airport, which had been closed to civilian traffic since early June, was reopened on 30 September.

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