The municipal building of El Mari in south-eastern Lebanon has been powered with solar energy with support of UNIFIL.

Last week, UNIFIL’s Indian peacekeepers handed over the completed electric solar project to the Mayor of El Mari, Youssef Fayad, who applauded the “much-needed support” from UNIFIL. El Mari Municipality is within the responsibility of the UN mission’s Indian Battalion (INDBATT).

Funded through the UN mission’s Quick Impact Project (QIP) programme, the solar project aims to address the problem of power outages in the municipal building, which also houses the local branch of the Lebanese Social Development Centre.

In his remarks during a handover ceremony on 2 March 2022, UNIFIL INDBATT’s Deputy Commander, Lt. Col. M. Sanath said: “UNIFIL and INDBATT are there for you and it is a matter of great honour for us to be of any help to our Lebanese friends. Such projects shall foster our relations to grow stronger.”

UNIFIL QIPs are small-scale, low-cost projects that are planned and implemented within a short timeframe, following requests from local authorities.

The solar project in El Mari is in line with the Mission’s efforts to go green in its area of operations in south Lebanon. Such projects are particularly significant as Lebanon is going through a debilitating power crisis and amidst global calls to reduce fossil fuel consumption and CO2 emissions.

In June 2021, UNIFIL adopted its Energy Infrastructure Management Plan (EIMP) setting out a wide range of green initiatives in order to reduce the mission’s environmental footprint. The plan includes, among other measures, solar energy self-generation, use of energy efficient generators and LED lights, supply and installation of demountable wind turbines, and reducing single use plastic products.

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(UN Photos / Corporal Vikas Kumar)