UNIFIL’s Spanish peacekeepers provided a range of firefighting equipment to 10 Lebanese Civil Defence Centres (CDCs) in south-eastern villages last week. The support is crucial especially during the ongoing dry season when bushfires in Lebanon are rampant.
The donated equipment included 100 fire paddles, 26 manual fire backpacks, 12 moto-powered fire backpacks and 35 walkie-talkie radio sets.
The visiting Spanish Minister of Defence, Margarita Robles Fernández, joined UNIFIL and local Lebanese officials at a handover ceremony on 29 July in the village of Rachaya Al Foukhar.
In his remarks, the Governor of Nabatieh, Hassan Fakih, expressed his appreciation to the Kingdom of Spain and UNIFIL for the support.
Throughout UNIFIL’s 1,060 square kilometre area of operations in south Lebanon, the mission regularly supports local authorities’ efforts in building a protective environment through enhancing capacities of Lebanese civil emergency responders.
Lebanon’s civil defence volunteers carry out public civil emergency services such as firefighting and search and rescue activities across the country.
(UN photos / Private Alejandro Sole Bielsa)