Prominent among UNIFIL’s support initiatives for local communities over the last year has been the implementation of solar projects in communities across south Lebanon.
UNIFIL and its troop-contributing countries implemented 39 solar projects in the 11 months since October last year. Top beneficiaries were educational institutions (schools and universities) and municipalities. The Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) and social development centres were the other beneficiaries.
Ranging from streetlight projects to lighting of schools and LAF units, these UNIFIL-supported green initiatives have eased the lives of thousands of students, army personnel, motorists and public service-seekers.
For instance, last May, UNIFIL Italian peacekeepers installed solar panels and batteries in the Lebanese University in Tyre, ending the latter’s heavy reliance on expensive generators.
“The entire university, especially students, benefits from this project,” said Dr. Firaj Hijazi, the Director of the University, adding that the project will help about 400 students each year.
Since May, Dr. Hizaji added, “we've been using only solar energy, except when air conditioning is turned on.”
Dr. Rima Aoun, the University’s Director for its branch in Bint Jbeil, an area heavily impacted by the ongoing exchanges of fire across the Blue Line, said the branch is temporarily closed with classes run virtually, but the UNIFIL-supported solar project had been “very useful” before theviolence started last year.
“We had no electricity from the Government and we needed generators which were very expensive,” said Dr. Aoun.
Last month, UNIFIL peacekeepers from the Republic of Korea implemented another solar project, benefitting the 51st Battalion of the LAF in the village of Chernay, north-east of Tyre.
“This project aims to solve the power supply issue faced by the 51st Battalion,” said Capt. Lee Sung Gue of the Korean Battalion. “This further contributes to the development and bonding of relationship between ROKBATT [UNIFIL’s Republic of Korea battalion] and the LebaneseArmed Forces.”
In July, UNIFIL Italian peacekeepers installed 100 solar lights covering about three kilometre long road in the village of Yanouh, connecting the towns of Wadi Jilo and Maarakeh. Yanouh Mayor Ali Jaber said “the whole municipality” will benefit from this project. Italian Warrant Officer A. Salvalajo said the project was about safety and cost-saving.
These small-scale UNIFIL projects aim to address some of the most pressing needs of the host population and support local authorities while strengthening links between UNIFIL and local communities.