BEIRUT, Aug. 1 (Xinhua) -- With the current mandate of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) set to expire at the end of 2026, residents in southern Lebanon's border communities are increasingly concerned that any reduction or withdrawal of the peacekeeping mission could affect security, livelihoods and daily life.

Although the UN Security Council has extended UNIFIL's mandate until Dec. 31, 2026, debate over the mission's future beyond that date has continued, prompting growing concern among residents in southern Lebanon, many of whom say the force has become an integral part of daily life.

Established in 1978 under UN Security Council Resolutions 425 and 426, and expanded after the 2006 Lebanon-Israel war under Resolution 1701, UNIFIL has around 10,500 peacekeepers from around 50 troop-contributing countries. Beyond monitoring the cessation of hostilities and maintaining stability along the UN-demarcated Blue Line, the force has undertaken demining operations, provided medical services, and supported environmental and development projects across southern Lebanon.

Residents said the mission also plays an important role in the local economy. Shops, restaurants, and service providers have benefited from the presence of thousands of peacekeepers, while the mission has created direct and indirect employment for many residents.

Hassan Al-Halabi, who has worked as an upholsterer and tailor for the mission for over 20 years, said many households depend on the mission for their income.

Healthcare is another key contribution. Residents said the Chinese hospital operated by UNIFIL has provided medical services to hundreds of families, while the mission has also supplied hospitals and medical centers with medicines, equipment, and medical expertise.

"The services provided by the Chinese hospital have been an important source of support for many families," said Bassam Shibli, a resident of the village of Halta.

Decades of interaction have also fostered close social ties between peacekeepers and local communities.

Claudie Nahra, a translator with UNIFIL, said relations have evolved from formal cooperation into daily interaction.

Some ties have developed further into family relationships. George Al-Qays, a resident of Marjeyoun, told Xinhua that around 34 marriages have taken place between UNIFIL personnel and residents, including 22 in Marjeyoun alone.

Beyond its economic and humanitarian contributions, many residents believe UNIFIL contributes to stability in southern Lebanon by monitoring the border and documenting violations.

Southern Lebanon experienced more than a year of cross-border hostilities beginning in 2023 before a ceasefire took effect on Nov. 27, 2024. Residents say effective mechanisms remain necessary to prevent a return to conflict.

Lebanon has repeatedly expressed support for maintaining UNIFIL's presence. According to the state-run National News Agency, President Joseph Aoun recently reaffirmed his country's commitment to keeping the UN peacekeeping force in southern Lebanon for as long as necessary to fully implement UN Security Council Resolution 1701 and complete the deployment of the Lebanese army to the internationally recognized border.

UNIFIL said in January that more than 1,800 peacekeepers had left southern Lebanon since early November 2025 following UN budget reductions. ■