UNIFIL’s Indian peacekeepers this week donated 21 varieties of veterinary medicines to the shepherds and farmers of 13 villages in south-eastern Lebanon, following requests from the host communities.

The medical handouts include deworming capsules, antibiotics, anti-diarrhea tablets, medicines to control external parasites such as ticks and fleas, ointments, digestive tonics, mineral mixtures and feed supplements.

The assistance of UNIFIL Indian peacekeepers, who have been supporting the communities for a long time, will benefit the villages of Burghuz, Kawkaba, Halta, El Meri, Kfar Shouba, Kfar Hammam, Shab’a and El Hebberiye.

In addition to providing on-the-spot briefings, Indian veterinary doctors also provided a set of written instructions in Arabic to the shepherds in order to ensure the proper usage of the medicines.

The UNIFIL peacekeepers acted after the communities reported an acute shortage of precautionary medicines for their livestock.

As part of their routine humanitarian assistance to the communities, Indian peacekeepers regularly offer door-to-door veterinary services to all the villages in and around their areas of responsibility. However, due to ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, such regular services have been temporarily put on hold.

During the latest round of support, carried out on 27 and 28 April 2020, all the preventive measures related COVID-19 spread were strictly followed.

Between their core peacekeeping duties, UNIFIL peacekeepers regularly carry out various activities like this one in support of and as requested by the host communities, which – together with their operational activities – have helped keep calm in the Mission’s area of operation for almost 14 years.

(Photos by Pascual Gorriz and Indian Battalion / UNIFIL)