UN Special Coordinator urges Lebanese to be patient amid 'uncertain times'

United Nations Special Coordinator for Lebanon Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert

Statement marked Friday the United Nations 80th anniversary, urging the Lebanese people to be patient amid "uncertain times".

"As the United Nations turns 80, while pursuing change and reform, Lebanon is passing through a momentous period of its modern history that will determine its path forward. Meanwhile, major regional shifts and global forces continue to shape a new security and geopolitical landscape," Hennis-Plasschaert said in a statement.

She added that Lebanon was in 1945 one of the founding States which gathered to form the United Nations as an attempt to avoid further suffering for humankind after the devastation of the Second World War. "In the decades since, a strong partnership has been built between the Organization and Lebanon. The latter carved out its space in the multilateral arena, not least through its contribution to the drafting of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948, while the United Nations, with its peacekeeping and political missions, and its dedicated agencies, funds and programs, accompanied the Lebanese people throughout different stages – many of which were marked by crises and turmoil."

This year’s United Nations Day falls amid uncertain times for Lebanon, Hennis-Plasschaert said, adding that momentous efforts have been made by Lebanese authorities and the Lebanese Armed Forces, which have breathed some life into long-stalled provisions of United Nations Security Council resolution 1701 (2006)since hostilities escalated in 2024. "Yet, with much of the south of the country still in ruins, significant funding shortfalls and continued uncertainty on how the near future will look, patience is something which, although in low supply, is still being asked of the Lebanese people," she said.

"History has left its mark and the underlying causes of past cycles of crisis have not yet been addressed. But collective efforts, in support of Lebanon's valiant, uphill climb are ongoing. And while it is true that hard work is still ahead, both at the domestic and regional levels, Lebanon has made clear that there is no turning back from its current path towards progress. The country has, throughout its life, been hampered by systemic political and economic failures, but never by its people. The United Nations will continue to work side-by-side with the Lebanese State and its people in pursuit of stability and prosperity for all."