Since 2007, UNIFIL has been regularly supporting herders and farmers in south Lebanon with veterinary services for their livestock.
Recently, a group of Indian and Spanish peacekeepers who are certified veterinarians visited the villages of El Meri and Wadi Khansa in the southeastern highlands.
The Indian veterinary team gave comprehensive health check-ups for approximately one hundred and fifty goats, seventy sheep, one hundred and seventy poultry animals and sixteen cattle in El Meri. The animals were thoroughly examined and treated for any infections or wounds and were given deworming treatment to prevent parasitic infections.
The Spanish team treated about one hundred sheep, sixty goats, nine cows, twelve dogs, one horse and more than one hundred chickens on five farms in the locality of Wadi Khansa. They gave medicine to the farmers so that they could continue the treatments themselves.
The farmers were very grateful for the help provided, and asked peacekeepers to continue this in the future to safeguard the health of the animals, which is their main source of income.
UNIFIL continues to support local communities throughout the south. This support manifests itself in many different ways, including veterinary services, as well as medical and dental assistance to the local population, in addition to numerous solar energy, sanitation and educational projects