The donation of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and other supplies necessary for the containment of the virus, in support to the Lebanese Ministry of Public Health in Marjayoun, will benefit 13 villages and 10 state institutions.

Today’s support in UNIFIL’s area of operation in Sector East is the continuation of similar support the Mission and its peacekeepers have extended to different areas in south Lebanon, supporting the life-saving efforts of the Lebanese state institutions in the face of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

UNIFIL supports seek to improve capabilities and enhance efforts to prevent the spread of the highly infectious virus.

Among the items donated today include face protective masks - standard N95 (1,900 pieces), protective suits - anti-viral (125 units), hand disinfectant liquid - anti-viral/1-litre bottles (500 units), protection gloves - latex, disposable (1,500 units), face shields - full face protection (90 units), chlorine solution - 10,500 litres (350 recipients) and frontal thermometer - infra-red, no contact (30 units).

The Marjayoun District public health physician, Dr. Anis Wanna, expressed his gratitude to UNIFIL for all the support to the people of south Lebanon through the implementation of many vital and important projects for the local population.

The ongoing UNIFIL support to the local communities are matched by the Mission’s robust precautionary measures in place, since the beginning of the COVID-19 outbreak, in order to prevent the virus spread among its 11,000 military and civilian peacekeepers as well as the host population.

Speaking about the Mission's efforts to assist local population in the common fight against the spread of COVID-19, UNIFIL Head of Mission and Force Commander Major General Stefano Del Col has said the existence of normal lives in our area of operations is the measure of our collective success with almost 14 years of overall peace and stability in the area.

“We don’t want to see any factor, including COVID-19, unsettle the calm,” he said. “Hence, we as UNIFIL would like to support local communities in order to address their immediate needs, which at the moment is preventing the spread of the COVID-19 virus.”