Airstrikes in Lebanon, Hope in CAR, and WHO’s Lead Paint Warning

UNIFIL peacekeepers patrolling along the Blue Line, South Lebanon.

The UN Security Council on Friday welcomed the Lebanese Government’s efforts to exercise full national sovereignty through the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF), as the United Nations warned that peacekeepers continue to uncover unauthorised weapons caches in the south.

UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric told correspondents at the daily briefing that these include mortar shells and damaged rockets.

Since the latest cessation of hostilities between Lebanon and Israel in November 2024, the UN peacekeeping mission (UNIFIL) has stepped up efforts to support the LAF in addressing unauthorised weapons and military infrastructure, and in extending State authority across southern Lebanon.

Mr. Dujarric said UNIFIL continued to observe Israeli forces conducting military activities within its area of operations, including mortar fire from south of the Blue Line.

“We once again stress that these acts of interference must stop,” he said.

Government in Beirut Sole Authority

Security Council members reiterated their full support for UNIFIL and urged all parties to take every measure necessary to ensure the safety and security of peacekeepers and their premises.

They called on all sides to comply fully with their commitments under the November 2024 cessation of hostilities arrangement, as well as their obligations under international humanitarian law, particularly the protection of civilians.

The Council also urged the international community to “intensify its support” for the LAF to enable their full deployment in the south.

According to a recent UN human rights office release, the LAF has recorded almost daily ceasefire violations, while Israeli forces have confirmed carrying out over 500 airstrikes since November, targeting what they allege to be Hezbollah positions.

‘Lives Being Built’ in the Central African Republic

The Central African Republic (CAR) stands at a crossroads, with an opportunity to transform fragile stability into lasting progress through joint humanitarian, development and peacebuilding efforts, said the UN’s Deputy Relief Coordinator after a recent visit.

Joyce Msuya met senior government officials, displaced families, community leaders and local responders, describing them as the “backbone of aid efforts” and “the ones keeping hope alive.”

“Everywhere I went in the Central African Republic, I saw dedication in action — communities leading, partners supporting, lives being built,” she said.

Ms. Msuya noted that while one in three people in CAR still need humanitarian assistance, improved security in several regions has allowed many displaced families to return home.

She also announced an $8 million allocation from the CAR Humanitarian Fund to support urgent priorities in the towns of Zemio and Birao.

‘No Level of Lead Is Safe’: WHO Warns

Lead remains one of the world’s most pervasive yet preventable health threats, the World Health Organization (WHO) warned ahead of International Lead Poisoning Prevention Week, which runs from 19 to 25 October.

The toxic metal is commonly found in products such as paint and cosmetics. According to WHO, it is linked to approximately 1.5 million deaths each year—primarily from cardiovascular disease—and causes irreversible neurological and behavioural damage, particularly in children who absorb lead more easily.

While global progress has been made, including a ban on leaded petrol and efforts to limit lead in paints, WHO said more decisive action is needed. It urged countries to impose and enforce comprehensive bans on the production, import, sale, and use of lead-based paints.

“No level of lead is safe. Every child deserves a future free from this poison,” said Dr. Ruediger Krech, Director of WHO’s Environment, Climate Change and Migration Department.

He called on governments, communities, and healthcare providers to act decisively to eliminate lead exposure and protect future generations.