About 120 school children from a non-profit charity – established in 2008 in the name of a martyred Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) official – visited UNIFIL’s Sector East Headquarters in Ibl El Saqi to know about the UN Mission’s work on Saturday.

During the visit, the students from the Association of the Martyr Lieutenant Colonel Sobhi Al Akoury familiarized themselves with the machinery used by UNIFIL in furthering peace in south Lebanon, in accordance with the UN Security Council resolution 1701.

The students also interacted with the K9 Unit of the Spanish Battalion and saw first-hand how UNIFIL employs dogs to identify explosives in their operations.

The Association of the Martyr Lieutenant Colonel Sobhi Al Akoury is a non-profit organization supported by the LAF. It was founded following the death of Lt. Col. Akoury in the Nahr El Bahred battle with extremists in 2007. The Association supports the children of the fallen LAF personnel “to heal their wounds and to feel their suffering.”

Various UNIFIL contingents regularly organize such visits for the children of the Association. This is one of several civic activities that help keep UNIFIL’s excellent bond with the host communities as well as the LAF, which is the UN Mission’s strategic partner.