Last week, a team of UNIFIL Environmental Management Unit visited UNIFIL Sector West Headquarters in the village of Shamaa in southern Lebanon in order to assess the environmental impact at the base.
The assessment consisted of estimating the energy consumption of the facilities at the military base hosting almost one thousand military personnel.
The team could witness that the installation of the photovoltaic panels and the replacement of the traditional lamps with the latest energy-efficient lamps have allowed for a 35% fuel savings over the last period. In addition, they noted that the accurate water management put in place proved to be crucial, especially during the summer.
UNIFIL Environmental Management Unit team praised the efforts of Sector West peacekeepers to adhere to the “Green the Blue” campaign. The campaign is addressed to the blue helmets serving around the world to respect the environment and reduce the environmental footprint of UN operations.
The visit was concluded by the planting of a cedar tree by Sector West Commander Brigadier General Francesco Olla together with the chairman of the team, in the main square of the base.