Indian troops in UNIFIL facing acute shortage of fuel

New Delhi, Aug 10 (UNI) The Indian battalion of the UNIFIL deployed in the eastern sector in Lebanon, is facing critical shortage of fuel and if the Force is not able to re-supply these positions in the next 24 hours, it may face the situation where it would be impossible to maintain them, a senior official of the External Affairs Ministry said here today.

However, attempts were being made to arrange for a re-supply of the UNIFIL forward positions of the battalion, the official said.

He said all UNIFIL positions remain permanently occupied and maintained by the troops.

Nineteen UN positions, including the UNIFIL headquarters in Naqoura, are currently in the areas where the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) operates inside Lebanese territory and where intensive shelling and ground exchanges are taking place.

UNIFIL's freedom of movement and the ability to re-supply positions and provide humanitarian assistance were denied because of the lack of security clearance from the IDF and due to the intensive hostilities on the ground.

The IDF has not responded yet to the repeated requests by UNIFIL to reopen the road between Tyre and Beirut by putting up another provisional bridge over the Litani River.

A humanitarian convoy to distribute food to the villages in the western sector, and other humanitarian activities planned by UNIFIL, could not proceed in the last four days due to the denial of consent by the IDF.

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