The United Nations has announced that Lance Corporal Albert Abrefa Busia of the Ghana Armed Forces, who was critically injured during a missile attack on a UN peacekeeping base in Lebanon, is recovering.
According to the UN statement, Lance Corporal Albert Abrefa Busia has undergone surgery successfully and is recovering after undergoing surgery.
Reports suggest the UN officials paid a visit to Lance Corporal Albert Abrefa Busia and described his recovery as encouraging.
Part of the UN statement read, “Great to learn that Lance Corporal Albert Abrefa Busia of Ghana, one of the peacekeepers serving with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon who was recently injured during a missile attack, is recovering”.
Also, the United Nations has echoed calls for the protection of peacekeeping personnel operating in conflict zones.
“Indeed, peacekeepers are not a target,” the UN said, using the campaign message #NotATarget.
In related news, António Guterres, the United Nations Secretary-General, had earlier issued a formal condemnation following an attack on Ghanaian peacekeepers in Lebanon that led to three Ghanaian peacekeepers being wounded.
According to António Guterres, targeted attacks on “Blue Helmets” may constitute war crimes.
In an official statement, the UN chief stated, “The Secretary-General condemns the incident on Friday, 6 March, which resulted in three Ghanaian peacekeepers of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) being injured inside their position in Al Qawzah, southwestern Lebanon, amidst heavy firing. He wishes a swift and full recovery to the injured peacekeepers”.
“The Secretary-General underscores that the safety and security of UN personnel and property must be respected at all times, and that those responsible must be held accountable. The inviolability of UN installations must be respected by all,” Guterres stated.
“The United Nations urges the parties to de-escalate immediately and fully adhere to their obligations under Security Council resolution 1701 (2006),” the UN chief added.
The Ghanaian peacekeepers wounded are part of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), which serves as a buffer between Lebanese and Israeli forces.
Reports suggest the soldiers were inside their allocated outpost when the exchange of fire occurred.
It will be recalled, the Ghanaian Battalion Headquarters under the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) in southern Lebanon, which came under two missile attacks amid ongoing clashes between the Israel Defence Forces and Hezbollah.
Three Ghanaian soldiers were critically injured, and one other was left traumatised, while the Officers’ Mess was completely destroyed by fire.
GAF in an earlier statement wrote, “The Ghana Armed Forces wishes to inform the general public that as a fallout of the current ongoing IDF and Hezbollah exchanges in Southern Lebanon, the Ghanaian Battalion Headquarters in United Nations Interim Force (UNIFIL), Lebanon came under two missile attacks between 1745 and 1752 hours local time today.
Two soldiers are critically injured, while one other has been traumatised. Additionally, the Officers’ Mess facility also got hit and has been burnt down completely. The injured are receiving treatment at the Level One Medical Bunker and are currently stable while arrangements are underway for their evacuation to the UNIFIL Headquarters Referral Hospital.
The Ghana Armed Forces assures the general public to remain calm amidst the fragile situation as troops are currently safe in underground bunkers.
Meanwhile, the Government of Ghana, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, has protested the unfortunate incident at the United Nations’ HQ in New York and urged the parties involved in the conflict in UNIFIL to be mindful of their responsibilities regarding the safety of all peacekeepers in the theatre”.