Abass Awala

Abass Awala was interviewed in UN Post 2-45, UNIFIL, South Lebanon for the Military Archives Oral History Project. His interview is part of a series of interviews recorded to mark forty years of Irish service in the country with UNIFIL. Abass has worked with UNIFIL since 1986 and at the time of this interview was working as Assistant to the UNIFIL Force Commander, Major General Michael Beary. Abass speaks about his childhood moving between Beirut and South Lebanon during the Civil War. He discusses his work with UNIFIL and with UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees) and he speaks about the future of UNIFIL.

Education

Abass Awala
Interviewed for MAOHP - 07/03/2018
Location(s): Lebanon

Length: 05.35

In this clip Abass Awala discusses his education and describes how the Department of Education in Lebanon allowed people to transfer between Government schools in different places due to the conflict during his school years. Abass tells a story from his childhood to illustrate his mother’s strong belief in the...

Early experiences with UNIFIL

Abass Awala
Interviewed for MAOHP - 07/03/2018
Location(s): Tulin

Length: 2.20

In this clip Abass discusses his awareness of the presence of UNIFIL in Lebanon from 1978 and his familiarity with the Irish Battalion and Irish soldiers. He refers to their role in providing medical care in the local area and explains that he used to accompany villagers to the camp...

Humanitarian services

Abass Awala
Interviewed for MAOHP - 07/03/2018
Location(s): Tulin

Length: 1.51

In this clip Abass speaks about the provision of humanitarian services to the local Lebanese population, such as delivering water to houses. Abass describes the difficulties with the supply of water because water was sourced [from Wadi Saluki] in the Israeli controlled area. He says that the supply to villages...

Operation Grapes of Wrath; Qana Massacre

Abass Awala
Interviewed for MAOHP - 07/03/2018
Location(s): Tulin

Length: 5.43

In this clip Abass discusses Operation Grapes of Wrath in 1996 [in one case he gives the year as 1986 but he is referring to events that took place in 1996]. He recalls eleven hundred inhabitants running into the United Nations camp where he was working, to be sheltered by...

Back to Life

Abass Awala
Interviewed for MAOHP - 07/03/2018
Location(s): Majdel Silim

Length: 2.23

In this clip Abass shares his recollections of going out with UN patrols, travelling from village to village, during Operation Grapes of Wrath. During a foot patrol in the village of Majdal Silim he met a man and his son who had been reported on the news as being killed....

2006 Lebanon War and work with UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees)

Abass Awala
Interviewed for MAOHP - 07/03/2018
Location(s): Beirut

Length: 15.29

In this clip Abass discusses the 2006 Israeli invasion of Lebanon, noting that prior to this there had been some talks that the smaller UNIFIL force would be merged with UNTSO [United Nations Truce Supervision Organisation]. He recounts moving to Beirut during the War and asking his mother and everyone...

Change in UNIFIL Mandate in 2006

Abass Awala
Interviewed for MAOHP - 07/03/2018
Location(s): Tulin

Length: 2.56

In this clip Abass discusses the new mandate for UNIFIL (United Nations Security Council resolution 1701 of 2006). He refers to a perceived change in the relationship between the Force and the local community, saying that troops don’t have the same freedom of activity to interact with the local community....

Forty years of UNIFIL

Abass Awala
Interviewed for MAOHP - 07/03/2018
Location(s): Tulin

Length: 1.26

In this clip Abass reflects on the fortieth anniversary of UNIFIL. He speaks about a generation of Lebanese people who have grown up with UNIFIL. To illustrate this he refers to his brother, Joseph, whom he says could pass for an Irish soldier and who has played basketball for various...

Relationship between Irish and Lebanese

Abass Awala
Interviewed for MAOHP - 07/03/2018
Location(s): Tulin

Length: 1.22

In this clip Abass gives his final reflections on the impact of UNIFIL and of Irish service in Lebanon.